NBA mock draft: The Utah Jazz and our composite top 30 picks
By Ryan Aston
Late Lottery (Nos. 9-14)
Mikal Bridges. 9. player. 27. . Wings. Villanova Wildcats
High mock: 9 Low Mock: 10
Height: 6-7 Weight: 200 Wingspan: 7-0.5 Age: 21
2017-18 Stats: 17.7 PTS, 5.3 REB, 1.5 STL, .514 FG, .435 3PT, .851 FT
He’s older, but the more I watch Mikal Bridges, the more I like him. He’s crazy long wing and a better-than-average athlete who’s a knockdown shooter off the catch. Bridges also seems to have a high basketball IQ on both sides of the ball.
Not overly strong and needs to clean up his handle some.
10. player. 93. . Guard. Alabama Crimson Tide. Collin Sexton
High mock: 8 Low Mock: 14
Height: 6-2 Weight: 185 Wingspan: 6-6.5 Age: 19
2017-18 Stats: 19.2 PTS, 3.8 REB, 3.6 AST, .447 FG, .336 3PT, .778 FT
His length helps some, but Collin Sexton is definitely small-ish by NBA standards. Nevertheless, he’s a bulldog out there, with a high motor and aggressiveness to match. Sexton almost plays with anger on the hardwood. More than that, though, he can handle and distribute the rock.
He needs to work on his shot and keep himself and his decision-making in check.
170. . Guard. Miami Hurricanes. Lonnie Walker IV. 11. player
High mock: 9 Low Mock: 18
Height: 6-4 Weight: 205 Wingspan: 6-10 Age: 19
2017-18 Stats: 11.5 PTS, 2.6 REB, 1.9 AST, .415 FG, .346 3PT, .738 FT
J-Notes staffer Hayden van de Maat: “Lonnie Walker is arguably the most interesting prospect in this entire draft. He has a big, athletic frame to go along with ridiculous speed and a crazy vertical. With quite a raw skill set, Walker has plenty of room to grow and fill his seemingly uncapped potential.”
His numbers don’t jump out at you, but Walker wins the eye test.
Kentucky Wildcats. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. 12. player. 77. . Guard
High mock: 11 Low Mock: 16
Height: 6-6 Weight: 170 Wingspan: 6-11.5 Age: 19
2017-18 Stats: 14.4 PTS, 4.1 REB, 5.1 AST, .485 FG, .404 3PT, .817 FT
He has that Dante Exum-like size and length at the point guard position. Alexander also has some of the same defensive instincts. Didn’t shoot a ton of 3-pointers at Kentucky, but has good form and his shooting percentages lead you to believe that he’ll eventually be able to hit shots at the next level.
Versatile player with basketball smart. That said, he needs to get stronger or he’ll get pushed around. He needs to become a more natural shooter, too.
77. . Big. Texas A&M Aggies. Robert Williams III. 13. player
High mock: 9 Low Mock: 15
Height: 6-9 Weight: 237 Wingspan: 7-4 Age: 20
2017-18 Stats: 10.4 PTS, 9.2 REB, 2.6 BLK, .632 FG, .471 FT
There’s a lot to like about Robert Williams. He projects to be a great defender with his size, length and ability, so long as he stays engaged. His shot blocking should translate from the college game and he’ll be a day one rebounder. Offensively, he can throw down on people, he has some post moves and is a better passer than you’d expect.
On the down side, he’s only shown traces of being able to shoot from even the mid-range. That could be a problem.
73. . Big. Kentucky Wildcats. Kevin Knox II. 14. player
High mock: 12 Low Mock: 15
Height: 6-9 Weight: 210 Wingspan: 6-11.5 Age: 18
2017-18 Stats: 15.6 PTS, 5.4 REB, 1.4 AST, .445 FG, .341 3PT, .774 FT
Has size, length and strength that put him in rarefied air on the perimeter, while allowing him to move up to the frontcourt, which will probably be his NBA spot. I see him and think Trey Lyles with better defense. He’s not yet the shooter Lyles has become, but he’s super young and could be the better player in the long run.
If he somehow fell to the Jazz, it probably wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
Next: Middle First Round