2017 Liberty Ballers Community Big Board No. 9: De’Aaron Fox finally makes an appearance

I’m a little surprised it took this long to see De’Aaron Fox finally make an appearance on the community board. I had assumed him a favorite of those who wanted the team to draft another ball-handler and an actual point guard to go along with the Sixers’ current core.

Fox will be working out for the Sixers on Saturday. Here’s what Kyle Neubeck had to say regarding Fox’s potential fit with the team in that linked piece:

There has been some Fox to the Lakers buzz over the last few weeks, and it’s not totally unsubstantiated. Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson was in attendance for Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament game against UCLA, giving the former point guard a front row seat for Fox’s dominance of Lonzo Ball. There’s a possibility he won’t even be an option for the Sixers at No. 3.

Fox’s quick-twitch athleticism would potentially make him a great-fit in Philadelphia’s transition game, but there are deep concerns regarding his ability to play in a half-court offense with the talent already on hand. His fans have pointed to his free-throw numbers and less broken form than Josh Jackson, while critics will say he could not hit water if he took a jump shot off a yacht.

The numbers aren’t pretty on his shot; he made just over 36 percent of his two-point jumpers at Kentucky, and connected on 24.6 percent of his threes at UK. You have to ask yourself whether the free-throw numbers—which are only in the low 70’s—are enough to shrug off ghastly shooting percentages as a freshman. I can’t bring myself to believe that added strength is all it will take to turn him into a respectable shooter.

I hate the idea of paring Fox with Ben Simmons, but would love him on just about any other team. I’m not sure I can deal with such a clear lack of shooting on this team for what feels like the 25th-consecutive year. I just want the pick to be in and for this to all be over at this point.

Who are you guys feeling next? It’s between Frank Ntilikina and Donovan Mitchell in my mind. I love both in their own right as catch-and-shoot threats, secondary playmakers and defensive stoppers, but that gets amplified even more with their ideal fit alongside Simmons. I would give Ntilikina the nod. Anytime I can side with the international man of mystery, I’m probably going to do it.

LB Community Big Board

1. Markelle Fultz - Washington
2. Lonzo Ball - UCLA
3. Josh Jackson - Kansas
4. Jonathan Isaac- Florida State
5. Dennis Smith Jr. - NC State
6. Malik Monk - Kentucky
7. Jayson Tatum - Duke
8. De’Aaron Fox - Kentucky
9. ???