Fultz, Ball, Fox headline list of point guards in draft

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Teams looking for point guard help in Thursday night's NBA draft are in luck — as long as they have a high pick, that is.

Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball have been the headliners in so much of the predraft conversations, projected to be selected first and second. Who will go first — and where — has dominated the build up to the draft, which starts with the Philadelphia 76ers picking first followed by the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 2.

Philadelphia and Boston have agreed on a deal to trade picks in this year's draft; the 76ers get the No. 1 overall pick from the Celtics and the chance to select Fultz. Boston will get the third overall pick from Philly.

But Fultz and Ball are not the only two playmakers available who could help some NBA team.

MARKELLE FULTZ

Fultz is expected to be the No. 1 pick after a single season at Washington, where he put up big numbers but didn't win many games.

STRENGTHS:

The 6-foot4, 195-pound Fultz ranked sixth nationally in scoring at 23.2 points per game while shooting 48 percent overall and 41 percent from 3-point range. He hit the glass (5.7) and ranked 15th nationally in assists (5.9) while having the athleticism to potentially play off the ball, too.

CONCERNS:

He shot just 65 percent from the foul line. He missed six games with a knee issue late in the season. And he couldn't elevate the Huskies to more than nine wins in a rough season .

LONZO BALL

UCLA's freshman star made the Bruins' fast-paced offense hum all the way to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16.

STRENGTHS:

He averaged a national-best 7.6 assists at the helm of an attack that ranked second nationally in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency (124 points per 100 possessions). And while Ball was at his best when he was distributing the ball in the open court, he also averaged 14.6 points and 6.0 rebounds and boasts good size (6-6, 190) at the point.

CONCERNS:

It is unclear how well his offensive game and unorthodox shot will translate to the NBA, though he shot 55 percent overall and 41 percent from 3-point range with the Bruins. But will he be happy anywhere other than Los Angeles? Both he — and his outspoken father , LaVar — have made it clear they want to go to the Lakers at No. 2.

DE'AARON FOX

Step for step, few people can keep up with Kentucky's one-and-done point guard on the court.

STRENGTHS:

The 6-3 Fox has a terrific first step and opencourt speed, making him difficult to stop either in transition or off the dribble. He averaged 16.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists as his team's No. 2-scoring option behind fellow freshman Malik Monk, driving the Wildcats to the NCAA Elite Eight. Along the way, Fox put on a dominating show against fellow star rookie point guard Lonzo Ball of UCLA. Fox went for a season-high 39 points on 13-for-20 shooting compared to Ball's 10-point night in the Wildcats' 86-75 win in the Sweet 16.