De'Aaron Fox would be happy to fit in with the 76ers' young team
The point guard said he would move over to play alongside Ben Simmons.
CHICAGO - Is De'Aaron Fox underrated?
The Kentucky standout said he's the best point guard in the NBA draft. However, Washington point guard Markelle Futz is projected in most mock drafts to go first overall in the June 22 draft. Fox could be among the top four players selected.
"If they draft above me, I'm fine with it," he said of NBA teams at Friday's draft combine. "I'm cool with it. You still got to play basketball at the end of the day."
Fox said he might try to show the teams that passed on him that he is an "extremely competitive" player.
So if he's available, the 76ers might have to think long and hard about passing on the 6-foot-3, 169-pounder. They are guaranteed a top six pick in Tuesday's draft lottery, and Fox interviewed with the Sixers Friday morning.
They have an 11.9 percent chance at the top pick because of finishing with the league's fourth-worst record (28-54). The Sixers will also receive the Los Angeles Lakers' first-round pick unless the Lakers finish in the top three of the lottery.
And they have the right to swap first-rounders with the Sacramento Kings, who have the eighth-best odds at the No. 1 pick.
"Talking to them, they want to see how I fit with Ben [Simmons] and Joel [Embiid]," Fox said of his Sixers interview. "I liked it.
"They have a lot of young pieces. . . . They really haven't had a point guard in a few years. That could be the missing piece to what they need."
However, the player who said he's best point guard in the room might not get to play point guard full-time as a Sixer. The team is dedicated to trying Simmons, the 2016 first overall pick, at that position. The 6-10, 250-pounder missed what would have been his rookie season with a fractured right foot. He played point forward in his lone season at Louisiana State University.
"They asked me about it and Ben being able to bring the ball up the court and being the facilitator," Fox said of fitting in with Simmons.
"I feel like I can really fit in with Ben. He's fast, and I feel like the position he plays, not many people can grab a rebound and push it with the speed and vision that he has."
So it make it work, the Houston native said he's comfortable moving off the ball. He just has to show people that he capable of doing it.
Fox realizes that's a big question mark, considering he shot just 24.6 percent on three-pointers and 47.9 percent overall in his lone season at Kentucky.
"I started shooting it well at the end of the year," he said. "I feel like if I start knocking down shots, then I'm very comfortable off the ball."
Shooting was one of his few weaknesses.
Fox is extremely athletic and explosive and is a good on-the-ball defender. He averaged 16.7 points, 4.6 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals in his lone season at Kentucky.
He's even compared to former Kentucky point guard and Washington Wizards all-star John Wall.
"Everyone comparing him to me, they say in his first year [in the NBA] he was pretty out of control," Fox said. "But seeing where he is now, if I'm able to get to that I will feel good about myself."
One of his best games came against UCLA and Bruins point guard Lonzo Ball in the Sweet 16 matchup of the NCAA tournament.
Fox finished the game with a career-high 39 points and four assists in the 86-75 victory. He held Ball to 10 points on 4-for-10 shooting and eight assists. Ball was projected as the second-best point guard of the draft class by several analysts.
Before the game, LaVar Ball predicted that his son, Lonzo, would dominate the game.
"It doesn't matter if it was him or another one of the top picks," Fox said. "I'm just extremely competitive, and I came out hot. We all know what was said. That just gave not just me but the entire team fuel."
These days, he's prepping for Tuesday's lottery, which he will attend. He would welcome the opportunity to play alongside Simmons and Embiid.
He knows Embiid's presence will open up things for him on the perimeter.
@PompeyOnSixers