Utah Jazz 2018 NBA Draft Profile: Khyri Thomas

Former Creighton Bluejay Khyri Thomas would make for an exciting draft selection for the Utah Jazz with the No. 21 overall pick.

The 2018 NBA Draft is less than 10 days away and the excitement for which prospects will end up where and which guy will ultimately end up in a Utah Jazz uniform is rapidly growing. This draft class just feels special in that there are so many intriguing options that could very well make an impact even if they aren’t selected until later in the first round.

Considering that the Jazz have the No. 21 pick overall (assuming they don’t make any trades), that applies directly to them. There’s so many fitting prospects available that it will be absolutely exhilarating to see who they end up with.

Of course, they can’t have them all, and ultimately the Jazz will likely be left with a tough decision to make when they select at No. 21. One of my favorite options for them to consider, though, is Khyri Thomas out of Creighton.

In watching Thomas’ game, he just feels like someone who would fit the Jazz mold right away. He plays with a confidence, focus and intensity that allows you to know that his head and heart are in the game. There are certain basketball aptitudes and intangibles that just can’t be taught, and Khyri appears to have several of them.

On top of that, he has several ‘tangibles’ that are absolutely phenomenal as well. Perhaps first on the “Will this guy fit with the Jazz?” checklist is his stellar defense. Thomas was a two-time Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year during his career at Creighton. During his final season with the Bluejays, he averaged nearly two steals per game and not only did he often draw the assignment of guarding opponents’ best player night in and night out, but he excelled at it.

His wingspan, strength and physicality made him a boar of a defender in college and allowed him to pester opposing wings of all sizes. If plugged into Utah’s development program and defense-focused system, he should be able to thrive even more.

But defense isn’t the only area where Khyri excels. Quite the opposite, in fact. You could make an argument that he is one of this draft’s most sure 3-and-D players. Not only did he lock opponents down on defense, but he shot an electrifying 41.1 percent from long range on 4.6 attempts per game last season.

Though the 3-point shot may very well be his most deadly offensive weapon, he’s far from a one-trick pony on that end of the floor. Thomas shot an exceptional 53.8 percent from the field in his final season at Creighton. That figure showcases his efficiency and intelligence for finding his spots and converting from them.

Despite mediocre explosiveness, he’s a good finisher at the rim and is improving off the dribble, meaning he could develop a knack for shot-creating to go along with his 3-point precision.

Like any prospect, Thomas doesn’t come without his concerns, though. Principal among them is his lack of size. Though he could challenge larger wings in college, the NBA is a different beast and his six-foot-three frame may limit his versatility on defense. In a league so focused on being able to switch and guard multiple positions, that could present a challenge for Thomas.

Then again, he is the same height and just five pounds lighter than Donovan Mitchell, meaning he could very well be of a similar mold. If there are concerns about redundancy between he and Mitchell, it should be noted that Thomas could still be a solid backup off the bench, or one day could develop into a 1-2 combo in the backcourt alongside Mitchell.

As noted in The Stepien’s analysis of Khyri Thomas, he is “comfortable enough as a ball-handler to bring the ball up at times”, and “not quite a combo guard type but can be a secondary initiator.”

In other words, if Mitchell ultimately becomes the one running point for the Jazz at some point down the road, and especially in a modern league where the so-called point guard isn’t always the one running the offense, it’s entirely plausible to see a best-case scenario where Thomas and Mitchell could be a starting backcourt together. Of course, that’s expecting a lot of Thomas’ potential, but it isn’t out of the question.

The size of both players together comes into question, but their defensive prowess and effort do not. Both would figure to be scrappy bulldogs on defense who would make a significant impact on that end of the floor while being dangerous offensively with a nice combination of finishing and, especially in the case of Thomas, 3-point prowess.

The final concern for Khyri Thomas could also be somewhat of a blessing in disguise. He just turned 22 years old last month, making him slightly older than Donovan Mitchell. Some worry with older prospects that it’s possible that they’ve already neared their ceiling and have less room for growth.

However, not only do I not necessarily agree with that sentiment (look at the leap Donovan Mitchell took this past season despite being one of the “older” 2017 NBA Draft prospects), but I also feel like it can be an advantage when a player such as Thomas has more experience and is simply ready to come in and compete right away.

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With such a solid foundation already in place, the Jazz could afford to draft a project and work to cultivate him into a star years down the road. However, if they want to take the leap from playoff team to championship contender, they need more NBA-ready talent in the mix right now while their potential window is open. Thomas fits that bill exactly.

His ceiling may be lower than some of the younger prospects in the draft, but the positives he can bring now would make an impact from day one.

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

The Utah Jazz have no shortage of options at the No. 21 overall pick and you can bet that once they’re on the clock, it will be a grueling decision for them to select from among the remaining talent. Nevertheless, my hope is that, if he’s available, they will go with Khyri Thomas.

Between a defensive mindset, a demeanor that seems like it would mesh perfectly with the Jazz, his three-point prowess and shooting efficiency, he has all the appearance of a match made in heaven for this Utah squad.