Final Mock Draft Compilation/Random Jazz Draft Thoughts

Well, it is finally here. The NBA Draft is tomorrow and most likely the Utah Jazz will welcome three new players to the family. It could be more, it could be less. Who could guess what will happen when it is all said and done.

One thing’s for sure: those different mock drafts guessing what will transpire will cease for a season. Without further ado, here is the last mock draft roundup for the Salt City Hoops faithful (focusing just on those that have been updated since the last compilation).

Draft Express mock draft, updated 06.26 morning

Jonathan Givony predicts the Jazz will go big with Mason Plumlee at #14. He also suggests that Dennis Schroeder will fall to #21, where Utah will select him. With #46, he has another point guard, Nemanja Nedovic being the choice. Plumlee is a solid player, but this seems like a bit of a stretch to pick him at #14 (especially if, in this case, guys like Shane Larkin, Sergey Karasev, and Lucas Nogueira are still on the board). Nedovic is interesting. He has good size for a point guard, but shot just 37% from the floor and averaged more turnovers (2.5) than assists per game (2.1).

ESPN.com Insider Mock Draft 6.0, updated 06.25 afternoon

For the first time, Chad Ford adds the second round to this. He will update the entire mock one or two times Thursday, so be on the lookout. He sees the Jazz going with the big at #14, saying the team has not been impressed with the point guards that may still be available when Utah is on the clock. Like last week, he has Lucas Nogueira SLC-bound. Ford mentions Kelly Olynyk and Mason Plumlee as other possibilities here.

At #21, with both Shane Larkin and Dennis Schroeder nabbed, he says Isaiah Canaan would be the pick. He is a small school scorer that has an NBA body. Multiple accounts have mentioned the Jazz interest in him. Rudy Gobert also is mentioned as a possibility.

At #46, Ford sees Utah going with Nate Wolters. That would be an absolute steal. Wolters was part of Utah’s first workout. He has good size for the point guard position (6’5″), shoots very well (48% FGs, 38% 3s, 82% FTs), gets to the line often (7.1 FTA), and can pass (5.8 apg) and board (5.5). He also scored 53 points in a game once.

Ford has been naturally busy, but has managed to conduct podcasts or interviews with David Locke and ESPN 700. He also did his annual big podcast with Bill Simmons. All are well worth the listen.

Sheridan Hoops Mock Draft 7.0, updated 06.26 morning

They have Utah opting for Schroeder and Nogueira. There is less known of both, particularly the latter. Both are athletic and would be “upside” picks.

NBAdraft.net Mock Draft, updated 06.25 evening

They see Michael Carter-Williams, Shane Larkin, and Ryan Kelly all coming to Utah. It is not a stretch of the imagination to see the Jazz adding two point guards via the Draft, especially if the front office felt they constituted the best players available at each pick. A combination of MCW and Larkin would be intriguing–a good mix of size and athleticism. Kelly is a 7’0″ stretch four who shot 42% from three-point range. He also blocked 1.6 shots a game.

USA Today’s The Common Sense Mock Draft, updated 06.25 morning

USA Today has Utah selecting Larkin and Tony Mitchell. There are some red flags with Mitchell. He has good tools, but work ethic has been repeatedly questioned in different scouting reports.

NBA.com Mock Draft, by David Aldridge, published 06.24 afternoon.

Aldridge is one of the best out there. He too does his homework. D.A. sees Utah going with Schroeder and Jeff Withey. Withey would be a prolific shot blocker to the Jazz bench. He would certainly be a project offensively.

Hoopsworld.com Mock Draft, updated 06.26 morning

Another mock that sees Carter-Williams sliding down to #14. If he is available, Utah would almost have to take him, his court vision and size would add a lot to the young core. His shooting is certainly his weak area, but that can be taught (this would be a place where Jeff Hornacek would be greatly missed). At #21, Plumlee’s their guy. I like him much better with Utah’s second pick.

For other excellent mock draft round-ups, make sure to see those by our friends at SLC Dunk and KSL.com.

RANDOM DRAFT THOUGHTS

• Much has been said about the Houston Rockets wanting to shed Thomas Robinson’s money, so as to be big players in free agency (with Dwight Howard being the likely target). Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle says that a deal may be imminent.” The Rockets are reportedly looking for a first-round pick, with hopes of drafting and stashing an international player. It would not be surprising if the Jazz were one of the teams that has inquired. Some are leery because this would be his third team in one season. It’s important to remember that the first team was in disarray (Sacramento) and the second simply has its eyes on bigger fish.
• There are many teams rumored to be shopping their picks. The picks most bandied about are #1 (CLE), #2 (ORL), #3 (WAS), #7 (SAC), #9 (MIN), #10 (POR), #13 (DAL), one of ATL’s picks (they have both #17 and #18), #19 (CLE), #23 (IND), #26 (MIN), and #27 (DEN). It will be interesting to see if any of these are moved and which teams are looking to trade up, in, or out.
• Likewise, many players’ names are circulating the rumor mill. Along with Robinson, guys like Kevin Garnett, Shawn Marion, Paul Pierce, Carlos Delfino, Aaron Brooks, Jimmer Fredette, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Luol Deng, Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters, Kevin Love, Eric Bledsoe, Caron Butler, Arron Afflalo, Derrick Williams, Marshon Brooks, and LaMarcus Aldridge have all popped up at one time or another (or constantly). Each year, the media suggests that there will be a flurry of deals on Draft Day (and on trade deadline day), but sometimes things turn out anticlimactic. Many will be eager to see if any deals go down Thursday.
• Obvious the rumor reported by ESPN involving Fredette and the Jazz is a topic for another post. Always a lightning rod topic.
• Andy Katz is reporting that some teams outside the top 10 are trying to trade up to select C.J. McCollum. It would not surprise me if the Jazz were one of those teams, especially given Dennis Lindsey’s recent comments about the Jazz “aggressively” trying to move up.