Speedy De’Aaron Fox pursued by 8 teams
CHICAGO – The Orlando Magic interviewed University of Kentucky point guard
on Friday at the NBA Draft Combine.
Fox, whose speed has drawn comparisons to
speed, is considered one of the top prospects in the 2017 draft class.
Asked how he’d fit in with the Magic, Fox told reporters, “I like their young team. I feel like they’ve had a couple of young pieces. Probably a point guard will really be able to fill them out. It’s a process. All the young teams have really been on me, and they’re just trying to get back on track.”
Fox averaged 16.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game during his lone season at Kentucky.
He helped the Wildcats reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
On Friday, the Magic also interviewed Oregon wing Wisconsin power forward
Maryland wing Iowa
State
point
point guard and Xavier guard
The Magic interviewed a total of 18 players during the combine.
Fox is the highest-profile prospect in the group.
This year’s draft is heavy on point guards. The list includes Washington’s UCLA’s North Carolina and State’s
Fox said he met eight teams.
Besides the Magic, the list included the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings.
The biggest knock on Fox’s game is his outside
with shooting. At Kentucky, he made only 24.6 percent of his 3-point tries.
“I didn’t really have a problem with it in high school,” Fox said.
“I kind of struggled with it at Kentucky, but at the end of the year, I shot it well.
“So I’m just focusing on that a lot.”
Fox said he will attend the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday in Manhattan. Magic coach
co-founder Williams, CEO
and interim manager attend the event.
Vogel will represent the Magic on stage while the results are announced, and Williams will sit in the secluded room where the pingpong balls are drawn.
The Magic will have a 26.2 percent chance of receiving the fifth overall pick and a 36.0 percent chance of obtaining the sixth pick.
Some mock drafts predict the Magic will select Fox fifth overall. Pat
general will
Hayes, the power forward from Wisconsin whom the Magic interviewed on Friday, described what the conversation was like.
“We had a good time,” Hayes said. “It was very relaxed — lots of jokes going on. It was really calm, cool. Everything was good.” Magic coach has drawn at least a few rave reviews about the new beard he sported at the combine.
the Detroit Pistons’ coach and president of basketball operations, even complimented Vogel when Van Gundy saw Vogel on Friday afternoon.
Vogel typically is cleanshaven, but he said he might keep the beard.
“It’s possible,” Vogel said. “It’s a summer beard right now.”