NBA mock draft: The Utah Jazz and our composite top 30 picks
By Ryan Aston
Mid-Lottery (Nos. 4-8)
. Big. Duke Blue Devils. Marvin Bagley III. 4. player. 211
High mock: 2 Low Mock: 5
Height: 6-11 Weight: 225 Wingspan: 7-0 Age: 19
2017-18 Stats: 21.0 PTS, 11.1 REB, 1.5 AST, .614 FG, .397 3PT, .627 FT
Marvin Bagley seems to have some work to do defensively, but he’s got the size, handles and leaping ability that will get you excited. A beast on the boards with a great motor offensively. He can handle the rock and will attack the basket with ruthless aggression. There are some sweet post moves there as well.
Bagley could develop into a dual threat in the screen-roll game; he’s ever-improving as a shooter.
79. . Big. Texas Longhorns. Mo Bamba. 5. player
High mock: 3 Low Mock: 5
Height: 6-11 Weight: 215 Wingspan: 7-9 Age: 20
2017-18 Stats: 12.9 PTS, 10.5 REB, 3.7 BLK, .541 FG, .275 3PT, .681 FT
LONG. Could be Rudy Gobert-like in both his defensive presence and his vertical gravity going to the rim. Unlike the Stifle Tower, he can get out and run in transition and finish the play. There are also signs he could be a 3-point shooter one day.
He’ll need to get stronger if he doesn’t want to get pushed around by guys like Steven Adams.
. Guard. Oklahoma Sooners. Trae Young. 6. player. 38
High mock: 6 Low Mock: 9
Height: 6-2 Weight: 175 Wingspan: 6-4 Age: 19
2017-18 Stats: 27.4 PTS, 3.9 REB, 8.7 AST, .422 FG, .360 3PT, .861 FT
Trae Young has star potential as a volume scorer in the backcourt. Incredible handles and shiftiness with the ball, instincts to attack and can stop on a dime and pull up from almost anywhere on the floor.
Sure, he’s small, but so was Kyrie Irving.
Duke Blue Devils. Wendell Carter, Jr.. 7. player. 24. . Big
High mock: 6 Low Mock: 8
Height: 6-10 Weight: 260 Wingspan: 7-3 Age: 19
2017-18 Stats: 13.5 PTS, 9.1 REB, 2.1 BLK, .561 FG, .413 3PT, .738 FT
Big, lengthy, powerful dude who will mostly be able to finish over NBA size from the jump. Wendell Carter is also a super rebounder, has good feel defensively and will take defenders out of plays with his picks. He has good hands, a promising outside shot, big man handles and is a decent passer as well.
Carter looks like another one of Coach K’s gems. He’s not going to win many foot races or high jump competitions, though.
Michael Porter, Jr.. 8. player. 156. . Wing. Missouri Tigers
High mock: 7 Low Mock: 8
Height: 6-10 Weight: 215 Wingspan: 7-0 Age: 19
2017-18 Stats: (3 games) 10.0 PTS, 6.7 REB, 1.0 STL, .333 FG, .300 3PT, .778 FT
A year ago, Michael Porter, Jr. was being talked about as a potential No. 1 overall pick. However, a back injury that cost him all but three games last season ended that talk. Still, he could be climbing back up teams’ draft boards. He could be the upside pick of the draft.
MPJ has all the tools to become a team’s primary scorer. He has bounce, athleticism, a great looking shot, moves in transition and size/length to move up to the four.
Next: Late Lottery