De’Aaron Fox might end up going in the top three in the 2017 NBA Draft. Should the Milwaukee Bucks consider making a move to nab the talented guard?
Who is De’Aaron Fox?
Anybody who watched Kentucky play against UCLA in the Sweet 16 this year is probably well aware of De’Aaron Fox, but for anybody who missed the March Madness tournament, Fox is a freshman point guard who just finished his first season with Kentucky.
Fox stands at 6’4″ and he plays a physical brand of basketball–some have compared him to Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook. Hoping any draftee ends up anywhere near as good as Westbrook is likely a fool’s errand, but Fox certainly does play with more physicality than most point guards.
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Most collegiate defenders couldn’t stop Fox from getting to the rim at will, which is where he racked up a good portion of his 16.7 points per game, good enough for sixth in the SEC. There’s just one problem with Fox–he’s not a shooter. Not yet at least.
It’s yet to be seen if that will change in the future, because obviously the future hasn’t happened yet, but betting on a non-shooter becoming a shooter is a risky proposition at best. Is that fatal flaw enough to hold Fox back at the next level?
To find out how he would fare as a Milwaukee Buck, if the Bucks decided to trade up and pick him, we’ll go through his strengths, weaknesses, and check what the draft experts have to say about him before finally deciding how he would fit in Milwaukee.
Strengths
Fans of Fox tend to talk about his Westbrookian intensity and ability to slice through defenses the most, but Fox was a complete player at the point at Kentucky. He averaged 16.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game in just 29.6 minutes.
Those are far from superstar numbers, but they’re certainly indicative of a complete player who makes an impact on all facets of the game. From scoring to facilitating to rebounding to playing defense, Fox is always involved.
He’s a tenacious defender who can dominate some matchups. Most notably, in that previously-mentioned Sweet 16 game Fox absolutely shut down Lonzo Ball, who simply walked to the locker room and declared for the NBA Draft afterwards. Fox dropped 39 points in that game while holding Lonzo to 10.
Fox’s ability as a passer is probably being underrated at this point. He led the SEC in both assists and assists per game, and was top five in win shares, points produced per game and offensive win shares amongst SEC players last season.
Having the ability to score is great, but finding that sweet spot between facilitating for teammates and getting your own shots is really what makes point guards special. The position has a definite learning curve, but Fox seems skilled already at finding that balance, something his NBA teammates will certainly appreciate.
Weaknesses
De’Aaron Fox’s weaknesses are not widespread. He’s a capable scorer, a good passer and a strong defender. He’s got NBA-level size for his position, at 6’4″ with a 6’6″ wingspan. So, what’s the problem?
The problem is he can’t shoot from outside. Fox made just 24.6 percent of his three-pointers with Kentucky, and with talented floor spacers like Malik Monk and Derek Willis around him there was no shortage of space for Fox to get his shots off.
Indeed, he took nearly two threes per game, a ton for someone hardly making any of them. It wasn’t great for Kentucky that he took so many triples, but his refusal to stop trying might help out Fox in the long run. If he does get that shot going, he’s going to be one hell of a pro.
Unfortunately for him, it doesn’t get any easier at the NBA level. Defenders are longer and just plain better, and the arc is farther from the rim. The hope is that Fox will become a capable shooter, but teams can’t rely on that happening based on the evidence Fox provided with Kentucky.
What the Experts Say
(As of 5/29)
DraftExpress (Jonathan Givony): 5th
CBS Sports (Gary Parrish): 5th
The Ringer (Kevin O’Connor): 5th
Sporting News (Sam Vecenie): 6th
The Step Back (Chris Stone): 6th
Chris Stone of the Step Back believes Fox’s athleticism is going to translate well to the NBA.
"Fox is a high character kid off the court and a terror on it. He’s one of the most explosive athletes in the draft in terms of his quickness and ability to get up and down the floor. Fox was excellent in transition with the Wildcats and can put pressure on defenses simply with his prowess for getting to the rack."
Gary Parrish of CBS Sports doesn’t think Fox’s lack of a shot will cause him to slide too far in the NBA Draft.
"At 6-4, he has nice size for the position and is super-fast with the ball. He was sensational in a Sweet 16 win over UCLA while finishing with 39 points. And though his 24.6 3-point percentage is a concern, it’s neither something that can’t be improved nor the type of thing that should prevent Sacramento from selecting him here."
Fit with the Bucks
De’Aaron Fox’s fit with the Bucks depends on a few things. Can Giannis Antetokounmpo develop a jump shot? Can Fox himself figure out his jumper? If one of those questions is answered with a yes, Fox might work out just fine with the Bucks.
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His fit definitely isn’t perfect, but so many rumors about him potentially entering the top three spots on some teams’ draft boards make sense. Fox is really good, and he’s got the tools to do everything except shoot well on the next level.
That one weakness is such a glaring one in the modern NBA though. The Bucks would obviously be smart to take Fox if he fell to 17, which is never happening, but trading up for him probably isn’t worth it for the Bucks.
For some teams, Fox might be a perfect missing piece. The Bucks could use players who can shoot pull-up threes though, and right now that’s not De’Aaron Fox. He’s likely going to be a really good pro, but his fit with the Bucks is more based on him being good than him actually fitting in with the team.
Next: NBA Draft 2017 Prospect Watch: Tyler Lydon
Bucks fans, like fans of pretty much any team, would love Fox’s motor and heart, not to mention his ability. But as a non-shooter who will certainly be picked before Milwaukee’s turn, it’s hard to envision a scenario where De’Aaron Fox is a Milwaukee Buck.