Utah Jazz: J-Notes staff writers' favorite players for pick No. 21

Utah Jazz: J-Notes staff writers’ favorite players for pick No. 21

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JUNE 28: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz speaks to the press after being selected in the 2017 draft at Grand America Hotel on June 28, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) Donovan Mitchell /

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Austin Leonard

I am going with one of the more popular options here. While I did not watch Kevin Huerter play at the University of Maryland, I want the Jazz to draft him simply due to all the great things I have heard about him.

The Ringer’s 2018 Draft Guide compares him to Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors. Standing between 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-8 and listed by The Ringer as an “excellent spot-up shooter with deep range…[who] finishes with either hand inside,” Heurter could provide the Jazz with some much-needed shooting and scoring.

Sports Illustrated recently stated they suspect the Jazz have given Huerter a first-round promise.

Problem is, Huerter may not even be available when Utah selects at No. 21. I am not entirely opposed to trading up to draft him. The main complaints around Huerter seem to center around his defense. He is also listed as a shooting guard and drafting him could create a logjam in Utah’s backcourt.

Despite these two knocks, I believe Utah’s excellent coaching staff could turn Huerter into at least an average NBA defender and that at the least he could serve as an excellent backup to Ricky Rubio and Donovan Mitchell.