NBA Mock Draft 1.0: Jazz Select Scoring Guard One Week From Lottery

The NBA Draft Lottery is approaching quickly, as we'll see the order of the picks announced live next Tuesday. In the meantime, we can take a quick look at how the board currently stands today, and how the draft could look if the lottery went completely chalk.

The Utah Jazz hold three first round picks this year, something fans rarely see from the franchise. One of these picks will end up in the lottery, projected to land 9th-overall. With a slim 4.5% chance to move up to first-overall, the most likely outcome for the Jazz is to stick at where they're expecting.

That makes things a little easier to analyze when it comes to Utah. The board could shift a bit here and there in the picks leading up the 9, but nothing too drastic that would effect Utah too badly. With that, let's dive into our full first round mock for how the NBA Draft could look come June:

Inside the Jazz NBA Mock Draft 1.0

1. Detroit Pistons: Victor Wembanyama, C, France

The Pistons have loads of bigs on the roster already, but if they end up with first overall, it's impossible to pass on this generational prospect.

2. Houston Rockets: Scoot Henderson, PG, G-League Ignite

A franchise point guard could be the last piece to this young Rockets puzzle. Scoot projects to be the best guard in the class, so the fit here is perfect.

3. San Antonio Spurs: Amen Thompson, PG, Overtime Elite

The Spurs find a replacement for Dejounte Murray one season removed from trading him by taking one-half of the Thompson twins.

4. Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller, SF, Alabama

Miller falls to four in this mock, as the Hornets secure their franchise wing possessing immense potential for elite size, scoring, and defensive ability.

5. Portland Trail Blazers: Cam Whitmore, SF, Villanova

A versatile wing that can do it on both ends of the floor could be a great player for a Blazers team simply lacking in depth and talent overall.

6. Orlando Magic: Ausar Thompson, SG, Overtime Elite

The other Thompson twin, Ausar, is a long athlete that could slot in nicely at the two-guard for the Magic, effectively rounding out the team's young core moving forward.

7. Indiana Pacers: Jarace Walker, PF, Houston

The Pacers find themselves with the flexibility to go a few routes at this pick, but they ultimately opt to go with the strong, attacking forward in Walker.

8. Washington Wizards: Anthony Black, SG, Arkansas

Black is a versatile guard that could play a multitude of roles for Washington, who has a few holes on the team needing patching.

9. Utah Jazz: Nick Smith Jr., PG, Arkansas

In the pick immediately after the other Arkansas guard selected, Nick Smith Jr. is the pick here for the Jazz. He's a big guard with excellent quickness, measuring 6'5, benefitting him well in driving to the rim and handling contact, as well as some better defensive potential down the line. He's also one of the more elite three-level scorers in the class.

Despite possessing some existing scoring guards on the roster in Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson, this projects to be more of an upside pick for the future. With the right progression, Nick could be one of the more productive scoring guards in the entire league.

We could also see Jordan Clarkson just as easily decide to decline his player option to hit the open market. In that case, Smith could be an immediate replacement for his role moving forward.

Considering three total picks in the first round, securing a potential go-to option on offense with their first choice could be a successful way to build this Utah team through the draft this season.

10. Dallas Mavericks: Taylor Hendricks, PF, Central Florida

A versatile defender that can also space the floor? Yeah, the Mavericks could use some of that. Hendricks is the easy choice here.

11. Orlando Magic (via CHI): Gradey Dick, SF, Kansas

Floor spacing has been a consistent issue for the Magic. Thankfully, one of the best shooters in the draft, Gradey Dick, is here.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jordan Hawkins, SG, UConn

Hawkins can provide instant production with a fantastic, smooth jump shot. Considering the existing young core still needing to develop, this could fare well for OKC.

13. Toronto Raptors: Cason Wallace, PG, Kentucky

An all-around guard like Wallace could be a perfect fit for this Raptors team, especially if they lose Fred VanVleet in free agency.

14: New Orleans Pelicans: Leonard Miller, PF, G-League Ignite

A 6'10 forward that can play either forward or center could work well as a rotational piece for New Orleans here considering Zion Williamson's health issues.

15. Atlanta Hawks: Noah Clowney, PF, Alabama

Due to the consistent trade rumors surrounding John Collins for the past two seasons, a potential successing four in Clowney could be the move here for Atlanta.

16. Utah Jazz (via MIN): Jett Howard, SF, Michigan

Son of former college legend and NBA All-Star, Juwan Howard, Jett is a solid scorer and playmaker that projects as one of the lower-risk prospects in this year's class. A high-level shooter with an excellent basketball IQ has a place on any team.

For the Jazz, he can provide excellent shot-making off the bench right off the rip, but could eventually develop into a future starter that can average close to 20 points a game. With a collective wing depth group of 36-year-old Rudy Gay, 27-year-old rookie Simone Fontecchio, and free agent Juan Toscano-Anderson, it's safe to say Utah could use someone like Howard off the bench next season.

While he's a great shooter, his defense (or lack thereof) is what holds Howard back from being a complete prospect. He's a slower wing, which won't fare well for him considering the amount of quick wings he'll be guarding at the NBA level. Hopefully, with the right development, Utah could help alleviate some of these concerns. 

17. Los Angeles Lakers: Brice Sensabaugh, SF, Ohio State

Efficient scoring and shooting is something always valuable for a LeBron-led team. Sensabaugh provides exactly that, so he's the pick for LA.

18. Miami Heat: Keyontae George, SG, Baylor

With the lack of shot creators in Miami combined with the recent injury Victor Oladipo suffered, George can be a nice pick at 18 for South Beach. 

19. Golden State Warriors: Jalen Hood-Schifino, PG, Indiana

Hood-Schifino won't be taking Steph Curry's starting spot anytime soon, but he's fallen too far for the Warriors to not take a shot with him.

20. Houston Rockets (via LAC): Dereck Lively II, C, Duke

A 7'2 defensive tower in the paint, Lively can be the perfect defensive compliment to Alperen Sengun's elite offensive production in Houston.

21. Brooklyn Nets (via PHX): Kobe Bufkin, PG, Michigan

Spencer Dinwiddie and Ben Simmons are the current options at the point for Brooklyn. Bufkin is the best point guard left on the board at this moment, so it works.

22. Brooklyn Nets: Kris Murray, PF, Iowa

Cam Johson's free agency puts a question mark on the Nets' forward spot. Murray is an older prospect at 23 but a smart player that has a role on many NBA teams.

23. Portland Trail Blazers (via NYK): James Nnaji, C, Nigeria

One of the youngest prospects in the draft at 18 years old, Nnaji is a great defender that fixes the needs of Portland struggling with their big depth.

24. Sacramento Kings: Rayan Rupert, SG, France

While the offensive game of Rupert is yet to be fully developed, he can have an immediate impact on the Kings with his impactful defensive ability.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Andre Jackson Jr., UConn, SG

The Grizzlies clearly need some change. Bringing in a national champion with a reputation for making game-winning hustle plays could be a good start.

26. Indiana Pacers (via CLE): Maxwell Lewis, SF, Pepperdine

The Pacers have spent some time over the past few seasons collecting productive scorers. Now, they use this pick to select a nice role-playing 3&D wing in Lewis.

27. Charlotte Hornets (via DEN): Terquavion Smith, SG, NC State

The hometown kid from NC State, Smith is a quick and shifty scorer that could fit as a good backcourt piece next to LaMelo Ball.

28. Utah Jazz (via PHI): Sidy Cissoko, SG, G-League Ignite

While the Jazz selected players that excel in scoring earlier in this draft, Cissoko instead provides some exceptional playmaking that the Jazz can absolutely use. He's also a bigger guard standing at 6'8 with a lengthy wingspan, so he can make plays on the other end of the court as well.

His shooting stroke is yet to be fully developed, and that's fine considering the Jazz are able to take him with the last of their three first-rounders. These picks are meant to be used to shoot for high-risk, high-reward players. At his peak, Cissoko could potentially be a high-level starter for Utah in the next few seasons.

29. Indiana Pacers (via BOS): Dariq Whitehead, SG, Duke

The Pacers are in a similar position with the Jazz to take risks considering their surplus of firsts. Whitehead just underwent another surgery for the season-ending injury he sustained in college, but if all goes well, he has lottery-pick-level production.

30. Los Angeles Clippers (via MIL): GG Jackson, PF, South Carolina

An all-around four like Jackson could work well in LA. Putting him next to great players like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George could take his game to the next level.

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