The Sacramento Kings should draft Kentucky point guard De’Aaron Fox with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
De’Aaron Fox is one of the most talked about players in the 2017 NBA Draft class and rightfully so. After thoroughly outplaying Lonzo Ball in the NCAA Tournament, his draft stock rose instantly. Now, he is widely expected to be a top-five pick.
The Sacramento Kings have been stuck in mediocrity or worse for a long time and that doesn’t appear likely to change for the next few seasons. That being said, they can come out of this draft with two quality starters if they play their cards right. Sacramento holds the No. 5 and No. 10 picks in the draft.
Looking at the draft class, Fox would be a perfect fit for the Kings with the fifth overall pick.
Last season at Kentucky as a freshman point guard, Fox averaged 16.7 points, 4.6 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game. He shot 47.9 percent from the field overall. One of his biggest issues is perimeter shooting, as he connected on just 24.6 percent of his three-point attempts.
De'Aaron Fox will gladly tell you why he deserves to go ahead of Lonzo Ball in the NBA Draft https://t.co/keqZ5kRblB pic.twitter.com/aTfmRogBaD
— Complex (@Complex) May 24, 2017
Standing in at 6-foot-3 and 170 pounds, Fox has the height for an NBA guard, but will have to bulk up. If he doesn’t bulk up, he will have a hard time going up against some of the more physical point guards in the league like Russell Westbrook.
Fox is one of the most explosive point guard prospects that the NBA has seen in some time. He also showed off his speed and quickness in college, which was nearly impossible for anyone to guard. That speed will help him go up against the elite NBA point guards and be a dynamic floor general.
Dave Joerger’s offense would change dramatically next season with Fox at the point guard position. During his one season at Kentucky, Fox showed his speed in the open court and a court vision that helped him make plays for his teammates on fast breaks.
If Fox is going to turn into a top point guard at the next level, he will need to cut back on his turnover issues. He is capable of being a spectacular playmaker, but also forces the issue.
De'Aaron Fox: I Feel Like I'm The Best Player In This Draft: https://t.co/4YaF9fuaiO pic.twitter.com/m1G4EblLVo
— RealGM (@RealGM) May 24, 2017
Looking at the current Kings’ roster, they do not have a point guard of the future on their roster. Last season, they saw Darren Collison and Ty Lawson take over the point guard duties. Sacramento has to find a true point guard of the future now in order to take the next step in their rebuild.
Trading DeMarcus Cousins last season was a highly scrutinized move and many thought they didn’t get the kind of value that they should have. Buddy Hield was the centerpiece of the deal and appears to be the face of the franchise moving forward. Adding a point guard like Fox to go along with Hield would give them a potentially star-studded backcourt in just a few seasons.
There is a chance that Fox will be taken before the Kings have a chance to select him. Markelle Fultz is expected to go No. 1, Lonzo Ball No. 2 and Josh Jackson No. 3, but the Phoenix Suns hold the No. 4 overall pick and are not sure which direction to go with it. Phoenix currently has Eric Bledsoe at the point guard position, but they could choose to trade him and go younger with Fox.
Expect to see the Kings come away with two immediate starters in the draft this season. Fox certainly seems like the right pick at No. 5 if he is available. If they choose to pass on Fox, there is no guarantee that a point guard worth their while will be there at No. 10.
Next: 2017 NBA Mock Draft: Post-Lottery edition
Do you think the Sacramento Kings should draft De’Aaron Fox with the No. 5 overall pick? If not, who do you think they should draft? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!