Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — While the NBA Finals certainly have captured center stage, the draft is quickly creeping up. With just two weeks remaining, teams are feverishly preparing for June 25. Player workouts are going full-steam and prospects are being interviewed, analyzed, wined and dined. Rumors are flying about teams moving up, down or out, while there is talk of players having promises from teams. It is an exciting month for NBA aficionados.
One major part of the NBA draft season is the barrage of mock drafts. Some may not put much stock in them, while others might place too much faith in these lists. With so many out there, it is helpful to have them all in one place. Here is a compilation of some of the major mocks out there, with a focus on the Utah Jazz “picks” and how these players would fare with the team.
ESPN.com Mock Draft 6.0, by Chad Ford (updated 06.02)
Chad Ford is one of the best to follow this time of year. He is well-connected and puts out great content. In his latest mock, Utah gets forward Myles Turner. Should he be available, Turner would be a home run selection for the Jazz. They would be getting a forward with length, shooting ability and a propensity to swat shots (2.6 BPG in just 22.2 MPG). Too much has been said about his running mechanics when there is so much to his game. Turner has the skills to be an impactful big man in the NBA.
In his Big Board 11.0 (Insider), Ford mentions Jazz interest in Turner, Stanley Johnson, Kelly Oubre, Trey Lyles, Frank Kaminsky, Bobby Portis, Sam Dekker and Kevon Looney.
Sports Illustrated Mock Draft 3.0, by Chris Mannix (updated 06.10)
In SI.com’s latest, Mannix has Willie Cauley-Stein falling to the Jazz at No. 12. That certainly seems implausible, given the interest several teams ahead of Utah have in the very able big man. If for some reason he is there, based solely on his talent, this would be a no-brainer for the Jazz. His defensive potential is immense and he could contribute immediately on that end. A big man trio of Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert and Cauley-Stein would not be the most potent offensively, but it would present incredible problems for opponents inside. There are some questions about his personality.
NBA.com Consensus Mock Draft, by Scott Howard Cooper (updated 05.20)
This mock has not been updated for weeks. Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky is the choice here. On many levels, a Kaminsky-Jazz pairing makes a lot of sense. Kaminsky is an intelligent player who can score in a variety of ways. His shooting prowess makes him a prime stretch four player, something the Jazz’s offense most likely is seeking. Add in solid rebounding and deft passing and Kaminsky could be a fine option behind Favors and Gobert.
Draft Express Mock Draft, by Jonathan Givony (updated 06.10)
Givony prognosticates Stanley Johnson going to Salt Lake City. That would be a great scenario for Utah. Johnson possesses unique skills and tremendous upside. He is versatile enough to play both forward positions, has 3-point potential and competes defensively. Johnson is athletic, speedy and has an NBA-ready body. He would be an energetic bench player with a very high ceiling for the Jazz.
USA Today Mock Draft 11.0, by Derek Bodner (updated 06.08)
Kelly Oubre, anyone? Bodner has the Jazz selecting the lanky, athletic wing player. In most mocks, he is all over the board. He could be taken in the late lottery or he could still be there in the 20s. With great wingspan, Oubre could be a defensive standout at the next level. He runs the court well, which could be a boon for Utah. He is raw, and he will take some time and development. Given head coach Quin Snyder’s aptitude for teaching, a player like Oubre might be a good option.
Basketball Insiders Consensus Mock Draft 7.0(updated 06.10)
A quartet of the site’s writers share their predictions at once. Two go with Devin Booker, one with Frank Kaminsky and one with Stanley Johnson. Booker’s jump shot is a thing of beauty. Shooting is at an absolute premium and perhaps no other draft prospect does it better. But could Booker contribute in other ways? The other facets of his game are lacking.
CBS Sports Mock Drafts, by Sam Vecenie, Gary Parrish and Zach Harper (updated 06.10)
Vecenie also sees Utah nabbing Oubre. Shooting guard Norman Powell and Moussa Diagne of Senegal are his second-round predictions.
Kevin Looney is the pick for Harper. Looney is a jack-of-all-trades. He crashes the boards, can stick the 3-pointer, handles the ball well and plays with passion. He would make a lot of sense as a combo forward for the Jazz. Along with Diagne, Harper goes with shooter Tyler Harvey in the second round.
Lastly, Parrish sees Booker being the guy at No. 12, with Harvey and Jonathan Holmes in the following round. That trio would certainly bolster the Jazz’s bench shooting.
NBA Draft.net Mock Draft(updated 06.03)
This version has Sam Dekker being Utah’s pick. Dekker would be an interesting addition to the team’s corps of wings. The leadership skills are there, as are the physical attributes. While he does not have a consistent 3-point stroke, Dekker’s versatility reminds some of Gordon Hayward. This mock has swingman J.P Tokoto and guard Treveon Graham being the Jazz’s second-round picks. Tokoto would be a nice find at that spot.
Sporting News Mock Draft, by Sean Deveney (updated 05.19)
This too has not been updated. Deveney has Croatian swingman Mario Hezonja coming to the Jazz at No. 12. Seeing as he is highly coveted, this does not seem likely either. If he was there, I imagine Dennis Lindsey would call in the pick to the NBA within seconds. He is a scorer who plays with a lot of emotion. Utah is very familiar with his game, as his teammates include Ante Tomic and Tibor Pleiss.
