Utah Jazz NBA Mock Draft Round-Up: 3.0
Jul 22, 2021, 2:52 PM | Updated: 2:55 pm
NBA draft prospects Trey Murphy III (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The NBA Draft is one week away, and mock draft season is in full swing. The Utah Jazz own the 30th pick in the first round, their only projected selection of the night.
The later a team makes a selection in the draft, the broader their range of players becomes, occasionally causing previously unseen names to crop up in mock drafts, as is the case with a few of the players currently projected to the Jazz.
The Mock Draft Round-Up: 4.0 will be published next Thursday, the morning of the draft. You can listen to the latest Jazz Notes Podcast with a breakdown of each of each of these players from KSL Sports own Ben Anderson.
Utah Jazz NBA Mock Draft Round-Up 3.0
Yahoo Sports – Joshua Primo: Guard – Alabama
In Yahoo Sports’ latest mock draft, Krysten Peek sees the Jazz drafting Alabama guard Joshua Primo.
Primo’s biggest strengths entering the draft are his prototypical NBA size for a two-guard, his youth, and his potential as a shooter at the next level.
The guard averaged a very modest 8.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 30 games with the Tide, but showed improved playmaking as a lead guard during the NBA combine and in recent workouts.
Joshua Primo is the youngest player in the NBA Draft.
Could be an option for the @utahjazz alongside Donovan Mitchell. #takenote https://t.co/fHbC8FxTMH
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) July 20, 2021
As the youngest player in the draft, Primo has as much room to grow as any player projected to be picked late in the first and early second round. Though he started 19 games in college, the guard reclassified to enter college when most of his peers were playing their senior year of high school basketball.
He’s not an elite athlete and his lack of experience will prevent him from contributing right away. But he could have a relatively high payoff for a team willing to wait on him to develop.
The Ringer – Isaiah Todd: Big – G League Ignite
In The Ringer’s latest mock draft, they throw a name into the mock draft mix that hasn’t previously been tied to the Jazz in G League Ignite prospect Isaiah Todd.
Todd was a top 30 high school recruit and committed to attend Michigan before opting to turn pro by signing with the inaugural G League Ignite roster. The former prep star had solid averages of 12.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 15 appearances in the Orlando bubble.
The advantage of playing in the G League rather than going the college route allowed Todd to play alongside, and against far superior talent than he would have most nights in the Big Ten.
Isaiah Todd was BUILT for the game winners 🗣
New episode of LEAGUE READY: https://t.co/zOHBQULsxP@StateFarm @nbagleague @zaytodd pic.twitter.com/AgZw4YsNtz
— Overtime (@overtime) June 5, 2021
However, he played in far fewer games than he would have in college and didn’t get to be a more focal point of the Ignite offense as a result.
Regardless, Todd has an impressive frame, standing a full 6’10 with a 7’1 wingspan which should be able to carry more weight than his current 220 lbs. Mixed with a 35-inch vertical leap, the prep star has better physical tools than most players projected at the end of the first and into the second round.
Todd shot a confident 36 percent from the three-point line and has the potential to be a help-side shot blocker with his length. But, he’ll have to prove he has another level of toughness to reach his full potential in the NBA.
Sports Illustrated – Quintin Grimes: Guard – Houston
In Sports Illustrated’s most recent mock, they protect the Jazz to select Quintin Grimes out of Houston.
Grimes has been one of the more popular names associated with the Jazz after his impressive showing at the NBA combine which likely secured the guard a spot late in the first or early in the second round.
More guard depth? Final Four star Quentin Grimes could be an option for the @UtahJazz in the NBA Draft. #TakeNote https://t.co/sYiaIWFW3y
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) July 13, 2021
Typical of elite high school prospects, Grimes entered college with elite size for a point guard before transitioning to a combo guard later in his college career. Despite changing positions, Grimes’ frame and above-average athleticism allowed him to transition to playing off the ball as his game developed.
Grimes averaged 17.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 40 percent from the floor and the three-point line.
Houston was one of the best teams in college basketball all season, finishing the year as a top 10 team three-point shooting team and defensive team, with Grimes helping to set the tone on both ends of the floor.
CBS Sports – Trey Murphy III: Wing – Virginia
In CBS Sports’ newest mock, they projected the Jazz to draft Trey Murphy III, the junior wing out of Virginia.
Murphy has skyrocketed up draft boards after the college season wrapped up showing off his more shooting stroke and athleticism in private workouts, and is expected to be gone far before the Jazz draft in most mocks.
However, if Murphy were to fall to the Jazz, he’d offer much-needed perimeter defense while adding even more shooting to the Jazz already elite attack.
Trey Murphy (@Treymurphyiii) with the 𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙢
📺 @UVAMensHoops at Louisville now on @accnetwork #GoHoos | #Wahoowa 🔶🔷 pic.twitter.com/UZC8yybtTJ
— Virginia Cavaliers (@VirginiaSports) July 15, 2021
Right now, Murphy has an underdeveloped dribble-drive game, but with his ability to shoot the ball, the less he dribbles the better. The wing averaged 11.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting an impressive 50 percent from the floor, 43 percent from the three-point line, and 92 percent from the free-throw line.
The Jazz would be thrilled to see Murphy still on the board when they are picking at 30.
NBA Draft Room – JT Thor: Big – Auburn
In NBA Draft Room’s most recent mock, they see the Jazz taking JT Thor with the 30th overall pick.
Thor has an impressive frame standing 6’9, with a 7’3 wingspan, and 9’2 standing reach. He has elite height and length for the modern NBA wing who will be asked to defend multiple positions on the floor.
The freshman can defend on the ball with his length and ability to move his feet, he frequently forces pokes the ball away on casual passes with his long wingspan, and serves as a terrific shot-blocker on the ball, as a weakside defender, and in transition.
See why JT Thor might be an ideal fit for the @UtahJazz in the draft later this month. #TakeNote https://t.co/LgXEVaorX2
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) July 15, 2021
Offensively Thor brings an intriguing package of skills, even if his statistics weren’t particularly eye-popping. He averaged 9.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 0.9 assists while shooting 44 percent from the floor and 29 percent from three in his lone college season.
Despite shooting below 30 percent from the three-point line he has a terrific form on his jump shot that will likely improve significantly during his career.
He has to work on his body to defend bigger wings, but his frame should be capable of carrying added weight as he ages.
Previous Draft Breakdowns:
