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Utah Jazz: April Roundup of 2016 NBA Mock Drafts

By Ryan Aston

Feb 28, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) gestures to the crowd during the first half of a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) gestures to the crowd during the first half of a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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After winning 40 games this season, the Utah Jazz are in line to select twelfth in the 2016 NBA Draft. Which players do mock drafts say they’ll pick should they remain at No. 12 following the draft lottery?

As the first round of the NBA Playoffs reaches its conclusion, Utah Jazz fans have turned their attention to the upcoming 2016 NBA Draft. Given their miniscule odds of capturing a top three pick in the draft lottery, the team will likely be on the clock at No. 12 when the draft takes place on June 23.

With the team needing upgrades at virtually every position, specifically in the second unit, which players could fit the bill for the Jazz at 12? There will be a number of options on the board and just where Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey elects to go is one of many important decisions he’ll make during what figures to be a pivotal offseason.

Here’s your late April roundup of what prognosticators from the around the basketball ‘net are saying in their mock drafts–

Gary Parrish, CBS Sports: Timothe Luwawu, SG, France

Luwawu’s athleticism is something to behold. He’s been a beast for Mega Leks of the Serbian league after failing to get significant playing time in his native France. Parrish had this to say about Luwawu’s NBA prospects–

"Luwawu is a wing with good size who is an above-average athlete and defender. Those things alone would get him selected, probably. But the fact that he also shoots about 40 percent from 3-point range makes him a possible lottery pick."

DraftExpress: Luwawu

DX’s mock draft doesn’t take individual team needs into account, but they also have the Jazz taking Luwawu at No. 12.

Derek Bodner, USA-Today: Denzel Valentine, SG, Michigan State

My personal favorite at the moment, Valentine could be headed to the Jazz, who desperately needed help on the wings behind Gordon Hayward and Rodney Hood this season.

Writes Bodner–

"Utah is another one of those young teams with depth at virtually every position. Valentine’s diverse offensive skill should be able to slide into a rotation and help from day one, a crucial ingredient for a team fighting for the playoffs."

While I would agree that the Jazz have talent and/or potential at virtually every position, I don’t know if I can go along with his assessment about depth. Still, Bodner’s assertion that Valentine could be a day one rotation player definitely holds water where the Jazz are concerned.

Chad Ford, ESPN: Furkan Korkmaz, SG, Turkey

Ford sees the Jazz taking Turkish sharpshooter Furkan Korkmaz, another offensively talented wing–

"Scouts talk about Korkmaz as the prototypical NBA 2-guard. He has size and athleticism, can shoot it from deep and can handle the ball. His turnovers and lack of strength can be attributed to his age, as he’s just 18. His experience playing for Andoulu Efes in the Euroleague is considered a major plus by scouts."

NBADraft.net: Korkmaz

NBADraft.net lists Hayward as a player comparison for Korkmaz. Without question, the Jazz would love to have another player like Hayward on their bench.

Next: Thurl Bailey, '83 NC State Wolfpack Team Visiting White House

Trevor Magnotti, FanSided: Tyler Ulis, PG, Kentucky

Over on our sister site, FanSided.com, Magnotti has the Jazz thinking point guard with Tyler Ulis–

"With Utah, Ulis could fill the drive-and-kick role that Trey Burke has struggled in. The Jazz could also be a good situation for him defensively, as the Jazz have plenty of length and the league’s best rim protector in Rudy Gobert. They could hide Ulis if the team is facing a bigger point guard, and their team defense could allow Ulis to sit back and gamble a little bit, knowing they have size and the discipline to compensate."

Given the fact that the team currently has four point guards on the roster (counting the soon-to-be-dispatched Trey Burke), all of whom are in their early to mid-20s, it’s hard to see the Jazz going for a point man. Especially if their pick remains in the middle of the first round.

That’s more of a David Kahn move, really. And Dante Exum continues to be the point guard of the future for the team. If anything, the Jazz may look for a veteran floor general in free agency. Still, draft night invariably yields a plethora of surprises every year.