:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55318495/646472658.0.jpg)
With four days to go until next Thursday’s NBA Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the fate of several Kentucky Wildcats is still up in the air.
Recently, respected basketball commentator Fran Fraschilla conducted a conference call hosted by ESPN. Fraschilla had some interesting things to say about De’Aaron Fox, Bam Adebayo, and Isaiah Briscoe.
The buzz around Fox is that the Los Angeles Lakers may pass on hometown product Lonzo Ball in favor of UK’s former floor general, especially in light of how Fox outplayed Ball in the Sweet 16.
However, Fraschilla cautioned for fans to pump their brakes on that assumption.
“I watched that second game probably three times, and a lot of De’Aaron baskets came against the zone. It came in switches. It wasn’t all 39 on Lonzo. But there’s no question that he was the better player that day.”
Fraschilla remarked that he still has Fox ranked behind Ball and Markelle Fultz, but also had high praise for the Texan.
“De’Aaron has certainly created a buzz, not only because of his speed and the way he played this season, but as you know, he has a magnetic personality that at worst is going to sell a lot of shoes if he becomes a good player in the NBA; and at best, it’s going to make him one of the elite point guards in the NBA some day.”
While Fox is trying to parlay his buzz into becoming the number two pick, his former running buddy in the backcourt, Briscoe, is stuck in limbo. Fraschilla said that the odds are 50/50 to whether Briscoe is actually drafted, but is certain he will make a Summer League roster, with a chip on his shoulder.
“But even if he doesn’t get drafted, he’s going to be on an NBA Summer League roster and trying to prove that all of us experts were wrong and if he plays himself onto an NBA roster, you know, then he’s going to be able to thumb his nose at everybody.“
Briscoe’s big game experience at Kentucky will also give him an edge in the draft and beyond, according to Fraschilla.
Finally, Bam Adebayo’s name came up when the discussion turned to players whose stock has fallen during the combine and workout period, but who are back on the rise. Fraschilla thinks that Bam will be a tremendous value whenever he is drafted and offered this explanation why:
“Bam is the modern NBA high-energy big. You’re looking at 6-10, strong, athletic, runs the floor, can guard pick-and-roll, can ball screen and run to the rim and catch lobs, and he’s young.”
The NBA draft will air live at 7:00 P.M. on ESPN Wednesday, June 22.