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2017 NBA Draft: 5 potential busts

By Josh Cornelissen

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Lonzo Ball (UCLA) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number two overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Lonzo Ball (UCLA) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number two overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; De’Aaron Fox (Kentucky) shows off the inside of his suit after being introduced as the number five overall pick to the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; De’Aaron Fox (Kentucky) shows off the inside of his suit after being introduced as the number five overall pick to the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

2. De’Aaron Fox (No. 5) — Sacramento Kings

NBA teams love intangibles and De’Aaron Fox is flush with them. They love competitive fire and humility and intelligence and hustle, and Fox is the poster child. On the NCAA’s biggest stage, he showed up in a major way, dominating the opposition – including Lonzo Ball – to lead the Wildcats to within a shot of the Final Four.

Fox has tangible strengths as well, from his elite speed to his ability to finish in traffic. Fox locks down opposing players, preventing them from shooting and daring them to attempt a pass. He is a rugged defender who can guard anyone, anywhere.

But De’Aaron Fox cannot shoot, and that may prove to be his undoing. It’s not simply a matter of changing the scheme, it’s completely overhauling a roster to accommodate a player. The modern NBA requires point guards to shoot, and there is a very small chance Fox adds a jump shot with consistency.

Not only is Fox a poor three-point shooter, but he takes so few. His offensive game will consist of short jumpers and shots around the rim. To succeed with Fox at the point the Kings will need to surround him with shooters, forcing their hand at who they put on the floor with him.

That doesn’t mean Fox cannot be a great player, and he has succeeded at every level thus far without a jump shot. Even with such a severe limitation, Fox has the intensity and athleticism to make it in the league in some role.

But with the fifth overall pick the Kings needed a can’t-miss star, and for a franchise with an overwhelming recent history of busts, they can’t be wholly confident Fox will reach that level. That makes this pick a shaky one.

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