2017 NBA Mock Draft 1.0: Volume 2

This is the perfect scenario, Markkanen can learn off of Dirk Nowitzki, the greatest foreign power forward of all time. It helps that they also have a very similar skill set; they are both knockdown shooters but struggle grabbing boards and defending the paint. I’m sure if Markkanen has the chance to pick the brain of Nowitzki then he will be great.

Markkanen was shooting over 50 percent from deep for much of the season, but that ultimately plummeted to 42.3 percent for the season, he’s clearly one of the best shooters in the draft. When it came to closing  out the season Markkanen really struggled from three point range. In the last four games of the regular season Markkanen went a barbaric 0-11 from deep.

Furthermore, Markkanen really struggles when it comes to protecting the paint. Despite mainly operating along the perimeter Markkanen only managed to average 0.5 blocks which for a 7 footer is atrocious. His defensive incapability is further illustrated by his average of 0.4 steals. For Markkanen to succeed he must lineup next to a defensive center, isn’t Nerlens Noel the perfect man to play next to Markkanen?