by Griffin Gamble
This year’s NBA Draft Lottery happened on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. What does that mean for the Utah Jazz? When having the best record in the NBA, the draft lottery isn’t something the players should be thinking about. Thanks to the collapse in the second round of the NBA Playoffs, it’s time for Jazz fans to be excited about the draft. The Jazz hold the last pick in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft. Although it seems like a quiet year with the Jazz only owning one pick in this NBA Draft, there is one name at pick number 30 that could potentially help the Jazz right away.
Ayo Dosunmu – Illinois
This is a no brainer for the Utah Jazz. Ayo Dosunmu is a first round talent. The fact that he is even hovering around this range is promising. If he is available at 30, the Jazz should pick him with no questions asked. Dosunmu has the superstar potential that could end up being the steal of the draft. He had arguably the best individual season ever for Illinois and led his team to a Big Ten Championship. He was named the USA Today National Player of the Year after averaging 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. He is a 6’5” combo guard that could really help the Jazz with some backcourt depth with the uncertainty surrounding the free agency of Mike Conley.
Dosunmu could take some of the load off of Donovan Mitchell handling the ball and create open looks for many Jazz shooters. Dosunmu could still play off the ball as well, and his improvement as a three-point shooter is something to note. He went from shooting 29.6 percent from three his sophomore season to 39.0 percent in his junior year. A very good athlete with great postinonal size for a guard, he measured with a 6-foot-10.25 inch wingspan at the combine. Add that to the good defense, leadership, and clutch shot-making and he has the potential to be a great acquisition for this franchise for years to come. He is an intriguing prospect for the Utah Jazz if he’s available at 30.
Make sure to come back for future versions of the mock draft on different players the Jazz should consider if available at 30. Also, look for different trades the Jazz could make in the 2021 NBA Draft.
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