Sixers

The Ringer Explains Why De’Aaron Fox Is A Lousy Fit

By Kyle Scott

Published: May 30th, 2017 · 1:26 PM EDT

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The Ringer on NBA draft mismatches:

It’s a monumental decision, and it’s good that they’re exploring all options. The New York Daily News reported that the Sixers have interest in De’Aaron Fox and Dennis Smith Jr. with the third pick, and both players are talented enough to merit that discussion. But boy, selecting either prospect would be a bummer — especially Fox, whose strengths and weaknesses overlap with a number of the Sixers’ most promising players, but at half a foot shorter and over 40 pounds lighter in size. The Sixers are in a position to eschew convention, and they have verbally committed to the idea of Ben Simmons as their 6-foot-10 lead distributor. This allows them the leeway to look at a relatively undersized shooter in Malik Monk or grab a hyperathletic jack-of-all-trades in Josh Jackson. The Sixers aren’t in a position where they have to draft for need, but they’re far enough along in their puzzle where they should start looking at how the pieces are fitting.

I could not agree more with this. Jackson or Monk should be who the Sixers come out of this draft with if they can’t trade up to get Fultz or Ball. Fox is a really exciting player who could be really good someday, but he can’t shoot and relies wayyyyy too much on his driving ability at this point to be effective on a team with no shooters. Also, Ben Simmons and arguably Jackson are better natural passers than Fox, though obviously Jackson isn’t a point guard. Fox just makes no sense on this team.