In a draft expected to be dominated by point guards, John Wall thinks De’Aaron Fox will be the best of the bunch, relays Chase Hughes of CSNMidAtlantic. Wall insists his opinion stems from watching Fox play and isn’t because they went to the same school. “A lot of people say it’s bias because he’s from Kentucky, but I think De’Aaron Fox might end up being the best point guard out of that class,” Wall said. “He reminds me of myself a lot, just a lefty.” Wall was the first player picked in 2010 and has been a four-time All-Star. Fox is widely projected to be taken early in the lottery, but after point guards Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball.
There’s more news as the draft looms three weeks away:
- Fox is the latest rookie to get a shoe deal before being drafted, tweets Nick DePaula of The Vertical. Fox, who was highly sought after by shoe companies, agreed to a multi-year deal with Nike.
- Ball may need an exceptional workout with the Lakers to be the No. 2 pick, according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, who notes that L.A.’s interest is growing in Fox and Kansas forward Josh Jackson. Ball’s camp, which once said he would only meet with the Lakers, is now willing to hold meetings, but probably not workouts, with the Sixers and Kings.
- Donovan Mitchell is a non-traditional point guard who may be a steal for somebody in the middle of the draft, writes Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. The Louisville product is celebrated for his defense, but doesn’t possess great passing skills.
- Oregon guard Dylan Ennis has been among the most active prospects in pre-draft workouts, tweets Oliver Maroney of Dime Magazine. Ennis has already worked out for the Thunder, Raptors and Celtics, and has sessions with the Clippers, Kings and Spurs set for next week. He is listed by DraftExpress as a long shot to be selected.
- Pitt’s Jamel Artis will work out for the Magic on Thursday, tweets Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders.
- Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan was the top name at Tuesday’s Raptors workout, tweets Blake Murphy of Raptors Republic. Swanigan was joined by Virginia’s Austin Nichols, Dayton’s Scoochie Smith, Houston’s Damyean Dotson, North Carolina’s Nate Britt and Southeast Missouri’s Antonius Cleveland.
- The Knicks welcomed six players on Tuesday, posts Ian Begley on ESPN Now. At the workout were Kentucky’s Isaiah Briscoe, South Carolina’s Sindarius Thornwell, Duke’s Amile Jefferson, Colorado’s Derrick White, Florida’s Canyon Barry and Columbia’s Luke Petrasek.
Philly Picks Fox to 100% when he is free
I disagree. I think the Sixers are looking more for a player who can stretch the floor. Fox might not be a great fit next to Simmons, especially if Brown sticks with his plan to let Simmons run the point
Philly will pick Jackson, he’s Andre Iguodala 2.0
Monk would be more of a fit for Sixers next to Simmons
Monk will go the Magic
Fox will go to the Kings. The Lakers won’t pass on Ball because the kid brings a story line with him and his outspoken father and the story of living up to being better then Magic and Curry which is kind of crazy but who knows? Lonzo is a 6’6 guard with hops who can make plays and make players want to play with him, and he’s got a jumper.
Has a jumper??? Have you him shoot? His mid-chest release may be OK when he’s being defended by a kid from Etiwanda High School who’s now bagging groceries but not so much when a 6’7″ guard with long arms and quickness guards him night after night in the League
He doesn’t shot from the chest. His shot is wonky but he gets it off fast. There aren’t very many 6’7″ point guards out there to match up against him.
I’d like to see the lakers grab Jackson to get an athletic Iggy type wing but I wouldn’t be bummed out if they went with Ball.