2017 NBA Mock Draft 1.0: Volume 2

Despite already having Eric Bledsoe and Tyler Ulis on their roster I can’t see the Phoenix Suns passing on Lonzo Ball. After seeing UCLA go from a 15-17 team to a 31-4 team we’ve seen what sort of impact Ball can have on a struggling team; he turned the program around. Could he have a similar impact in the NBA? I don’t he will have a drastic impact on the Suns but I do think every player will benefit from having a genius in Lonzo Ball running the point.

Its scary to imagine the combination of Lonzo Ball and Devin Booker down the line. If Ball can turn mediocre prospects like Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton into potentially getting drafted just think what he could do with D-Book. Booker’s game will elevate to the next level, maybe Ball play making prowess will be the catalyst in Booker becoming the next Kobe.

If this was the case, despite Tyler Ulis’ rise during his rookie campaign he may be stuck to a role on the bench. I envision Ulis having a similar role that Isaiah Thomas had in his early career with the Sacramento Kings.

In contrast, Ball’s unorthodox shooting mechanics may cause difficulty in translating his shot to the NBA. He has already shown that he can launch it from a silly range but with longer, more athletic guards guarding him they may find it easy to block the shot.

In addition Ball’s below averaged defense leaves a lot to be desired. He often struggled to stay in front of his man but this was disguised as Ball’s teammates would always cover for him. Ball will stand no chance when guarding athletic freaks like Russell Westbrook.