8p9s Mock Draft 3.0: Trying to keep up with rumors

Some things aren’t complicated. Fultz is in a tier of his own among this year’s draft class. At 19, he’s already an incredibly sophisticated playmaker and creator for both himself and for others. He’s got the physical tools to back up this skill too. Fultz’s 6-foot-10 wingspan gives him elite length at the point guard position.

It’s a lot of work trying to find holes in Fultz’s game. Some have criticized his casual approach to defense, while others worry about his shooting consistency. A lot of it seems like grasping for straws. Yeah, no one is perfect, but Fultz is about as well-rounded as rookies come. Markelle Fultz is the best player in this class, full stop.

Remember that week or two where Twitter and ESPN decided to fill time by pretending that the Lakers weren’t always going to draft Lonzo Ball? It seems like so long ago. (Pay no attention to the fact that I had the Lakers take Fox at No. 2 the last time around. It was just more fun that way).

Ball sees the floor in transition better than any guard prospect in several years. His future team will be in a better place offensively the second he walks through the door. Now that the D’Angelo Russell reclamation project will take place in Brooklyn, the Lakers have an even bigger hole at point guard. These first two picks are as much a lock as we can possibly declare before the draft.

Ball’s shooting mechanics and their quirks have been well documented, but the ball goes through the hoop an awful lot. I’m inclined to worry about his shot when it becomes necessary, not before. He might struggle on defense, but so will most rookies, and he should be able use that impeccable floor vision to nab a few steals here and there.