As De’Aaron Fox’s draft stock rises, could the Sixers grab him?

 

 

By Josh Liddick, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Sixers are looking for someone to fill their back court void they have been lacking for quite a while now. While T.J. McConnell, Gerald Henderson, Nik Stauskas, and Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot have been suitable players in the last year, it's strikingly apparent the team needs that "it" player on their squad.

Enter De'Aaron Fox. The Kentucky guard has been on the rise for the last several weeks on many expert's draft boards. There isn't a doubt in many people's minds that Fox can play, and play pretty darn well.

The question is, however, is if Fox will be that very guy the Sixers are looking for. Also, does it make sense for the Sixers to take him that high, despite what others say?

The Sixers have been linked to Malik Monk for quite some time now, but many people argue, and many agree that the Sixers would be stretching quite a lot to take Monk with the third overall pick in the draft.

Is there really a difference with taking one Kentucky star over the other? It really all depends on what the Sixers see as an advantage and who they see will be the guy moving forward.

An interesting concern could be how Fox will play without Monk in his back court. Wizards star guard, and former Kentucky Wildcat John Wall was quoted saying that the tandem were 'probably the best back court in college basketball.'

There's no doubt in anyone's minds that the combination of Fox's incredible athleticism and Monk's elite scoring ability was a force to be reckoned with for opponents in the SEC and beyond.

I think that if Fox is paired with the right people, there won't be any problem conforming to a new environment.

There are also a ton of people out there that believe that Fox, not Markelle Fultz or Lonzo Ball, is the best PG in this draft class. That's saying quite a lot considering the level of talent at the one in this draft.

 

I feel that even if that statement is true, Fox will still be available at the number three pick, and fall right into the Sixers'  lap. Then the question rises again, should the Sixers take Fox at three?

Fox fits everything the Sixers are trying to do, and has been linked to the team even before the lottery. The Sixers have met and interviewed with Fox and it seems like he would be on the same page with everyone involved should the team take a chance on him.

He's already said that he thinks he could fit in with the Sixers' young core and play off the ball well with Ben Simmons bringing up the rock.

One of my best colleagues, Kentucky fan and expert, and radio host Paul Petrucci, says Fox is a gamer and fits the team well position-wise.

Fox might come in with a jump shot that's weak from three, but he comes in with speed of John Wall. I think he can come in, put the time in, work on that jump shot and be a guy who down the road can make guys around him better. I think it'll take him a few years to figure it out how to play with his speed like John Wall did, but the athleticism, speed, and work ethic is there.

The Sixers would be very lucky to grab a guy like De'Aaron Fox to play a one/two combo guard position, and it's obvious he will make an impact almost instantly.

Time will tell if the Sixers will take Fox with the third pick or even if he comes to a point before draft time to be a player that is taken that high.

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