A potential Utah Jazz steal in upcoming 2021 NBA Draft

The Utah Jazz could wind up filling their most obvious need on draft night.

Finishing first in the regular season and then collapsing in the second round of the playoffs doesn’t exactly present the ideal scenario for the Utah Jazz in advance of the NBA Draft on July 29. In fact, as a result of the franchise’s supreme 2020-21 record and its past traded second-round pick, the Jazzmen now hold only the No. 30 overall selection.

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But one prospect who might become a Utah steal is Ayo Dosunmo.

How Ayo Dosunmo would greatly benefit the Utah Jazz

As the Los Angeles Clippers shooters surely can now attest, the Utah Jazz’s glaring weakness appears to be perimeter defense. And that is exactly what Dosunmu should be able to help bolster if the Illinois product falls to the end of the first round with the decision-makers in Salt Lake City then deciding to select him.

Plus, the 6-foot-5, 200-pound Chicago native is an explosive athlete, emphatic finisher, and capable shooter.

Currently, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer projects Dosunmu to the Jazz with the following reasoning:

“Mike Conley will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Losing him would be disastrous considering his importance to the team. But even if he does return, he will be 34 next season. Finding another guard should be one of the front office’s top priorities.”

O’Connor continued:

“Dosunmu would bring the size to defend larger players on defense, adding versatility and switchability to a team in need of it.”

Yes, any extra hustle and lockdown defense would definitely be a welcome sight in Utah next season.

Last season as a junior, the 21-year-old Osunmu averaged 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting 39.0 percent beyond the arc for a Fighting Illini squad that finished 24-7 overall and No. 2 in the final AP Top 25 Poll.