2018 NBA Mock Draft: Luka Doncic could accelerate the Hawks’ rebuild
69. . G. IMG Academy. anfernee simons. 21. player
Simons and New Orleans are one of the better matches in the draft this year.
It remains to be seen whether the high-schooler will go as high as his talent suggests he should (or if he will even actually declare for this year’s draft), but I keep coming back to one skill with Simons. He could genuinely be a Damian Lillard-type pull-up 3-point shooter in the NBA. As teams get smaller and faster, the ability to rise up over defenses and bury 3s at an elite rate is an invaluable skill.
Simons is smooth and accurate enough to make that shot work, meaning he already possesses the potential to become an elite offensive guard. He will obviously need to add passing and finishing skills to earn the complete respect of defenders, but so much can flow from the ability to hit the pull-up 3.
New Orleans is on the precipice of a revolutionary offense. They just need shooting to fill out the roster around DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis. Simons would be a great option.