Fox
Mar 24, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA;Kentucky Wildcats guard De'Aaron Fox (0) drives between UCLA Bruins forward TJ Leaf (22) and guard Lonzo Ball (2) in the first half during the semifinals of the South Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

New York Knicks fans aren’t going to like Chad Ford’s latest Mock Draft for ESPN. He has the team passing on point guard De’Aaron Fox.

All eyes were on LaVar Ball’s son—the lesser known Lonzo—in UCLA’s Sweet 16 matchup with Kentucky. However, it was Kentucky’s point guard De’Aaron Fox who took center stage, causing New York Knicks fans to fall in love with his aggressive offense and lockdown defensive effort.

Fox held Ball to 4 of 10 shooting for just 10 points while putting up 39 points himself without making a single three-point attempt on 13 of 20 from the field. The 19-year-old put the Wildcats on his back. His usage percentage was a game-high 40.1 percent!

Kentucky fell in the Elite 8 to North Carolina, but Fox had made his mark with Knicks fans. Their team needed a point guard, and he would be available when they chose. Unlike Ball and Markelle Fultz.

It seems like a match made in heaven. Then ESPN’s Draft Expert Chad Ford came along and ruined everything. Not only does he have the Knicks passing on Fox in his latest mock draft (released today), but he doesn’t have them selecting a point guard at all.

In Ford’s fourth mock he has the Knicks selecting Duke forward Jayson Tatum with the No. 6 pick. Tatum’s a very skilled player, but New York needs a point guard. This pick would be unpopular with the fanbase, and that’s being kind. To be fair to the Dukie, it has nothing to do with him.

Tatum has been compared—perhaps unfairly—to Carmelo Anthony. Tatum loves to play in the isolation game and unlike many youngsters excels with the mid-range shot as well as with the three-point.

In Ford’s previous mock he had New York selecting French point guard Frank Ntilikina with the No. 8 pick. Keep an eye on him because you’ll be hearing that name constantly leading up to the draft. Like Kristaps Porzingis, you won’t see him play until he reaches the league.

Until those ping pong balls spit out the official draft order on May 16, it won’t matter who the fans love or who fits Phil Jackson’s triangle offense the best. Right now, New York just needs to keep on losing.