NBA Draft 2018: A final round-up of Utah Jazz mock draft picks

What will the Utah Jazz do in the 2018 NBA Draft? Here’s a round-up of what the national media outlets are saying with their mock drafts.

The big night is finally upon us. In a few, short hours, the Utah Jazz and GM Dennis Lindsey will be on the clock with the 21st pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Unless, of course, Lindsey is able to pull off another draft-night trade to improve their standing.

Who knows — maybe he has another Donovan Mitchell or Rudy Gobert-esque rabbit to pull out of his hat. Failing that, though, the Jazz should have a lot of options at No. 21 in what feels like one of the deeper drafts in recent memory. The big question now is who they’ll ultimately choose.

In order to get a feel for the direction they might go, I’ve assembled some of the most recent mock drafts from national media outlets. If there’s a theme among their Jazz picks, it’s that there isn’t any theme at all.

Here’s the final mock draft round-up…

Bleacher Report — Jonathan Wasserman (6/21)

Troy Brown, G/F, Oregon

“The idea of Brown is more appealing than his freshman numbers,” writes Wasserman. Truer words were never spoken. In fact, his numbers freak me out a little. I worry that he’ll never be a shooter in the league. Like…at all.

On the flipside, he looks like a great athlete, he’s long with a wingspan approaching seven feet and he’s still really young, so there could still be some neat developmental steps for him.

Time will tell, I suppose.

CBS Sports – Reid Forgrave (6/20)

Keita Bates-Diop, PF, Ohio St.

Forgrave says that Bates-Diop “projects as an athletic 3-and-D player who will be ready to contribute on day one.” For my part, I can see the appeal. Especially in a league where versatility and the ability to switch/guard multiple positions is so important.

KBD is really long with a wingspan checking in at 7-foot-2. That, combined with his size (6-foot-7, 235 pounds), equates to the prototypical three/four in the Association.

I worry somewhat about his age and the fact that he didn’t really hit his stride offensively until his senior year. Is he close to maxed out already?

The J-Notes composite mock draft: We've combined our individual mock drafts to come up with a composite top 30. With the 21st pick, the Utah Jazz select...

The Sporting News — Chris Stone (6/21)

Elie Okobo, PG, Pau-Orthez

Says Stone: “In Utah, he would offer head coach Quin Snyder a number of diverse backcourt looks and potentially pair well with Donovan Mitchell over the long-term.”

His measurements, though respectable for a point guard, won’t wow you — he’s 6-foot-3 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan. Still, the thing that intrigues me about him is his shooting/scoring ability. Okobo scored 1.21 points per catch-and-shoot attempt and knocked down 41 percent of his triples last season.

He can create his own shot, too.

USA Today – Singer, Zillgitt and Amick (6/20)

Kevin Huerter, F, Maryland

In terms of offensive skillset, the USA Today crew’s pick for the Jazz at No. 21 would be ideal. Simply put, he makes the ball go in the basket. He was a deadly catch-and-shoot guy who did work off of screens, hand-offs and spot-ups. And his stroke reminds one of a young Kyle Korver or J.J. Redick.

He’ll be out for two months after tearing ligaments in his hand, but that shouldn’t affect his draft position.

SI — Jeremy Woo (6/20)

De’Anthony Melton, G, USC

I haven’t seen Melton’s name come up a ton with the Jazz, but I understand Woo’s logic. “His presence would take some responsibility away from Donovan Mitchell and enable the Jazz to try different looks in the backcourt,” he writes, “provided Melton’s improved 3-point stroke holds up.”

I like his functional athleticism, competitiveness and energy on the floor. Maybe those things make up for not having great size.

His shooting numbers scare me, though. Shot 28 percent from distance and a middling 70 percent from the charity stripe with the Trojans. It’s not a pretty shot, either.

NBA.com — David Aldridge (6/18)

Moritz Wagner, F/C, Michigan

He’s probably not even in my top three for potential picks at No. 21, but I’ll be stoked nonetheless if the Jazz call Wagner’s name there. He’s a big man with swagger and an outside shot. That’s a player you want, regardless of what Derrick Favors does this summer as an unrestricted free agent.

Here’s what Aldridge says: “He’s a tailor-made modern day big, who’s been a dynamic 3-point shooter the last two years (39 percent as a sophomore and a junior) while also being able to put the ball on the deck and get to the rim.”