2021 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: How the picks should fall

Kai Jones, NBA Mock Draft (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Kai Jones, NBA Mock Draft (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
30 of 30
JT Thor, NBA Draft Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
JT Thor, NBA Draft Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

2021 NBA Mock Draft — 30. JT Thor, Utah Jazz

The Jazz are in a fascinating position and would benefit from a real stopper on the perimeter. That said, no one in this range fits that mold, and the best prospect on the board is JT Thor, who may overlap somewhat with other players on the roster.

In the end, Thor is a long-term project for Utah. He’s not helping Utah over the hump next season, but he’s an alluring frontcourt option with a skill set and athletic profile indicative of a potentially dynamic contributor down the line. The 6-foot-9 Thor can switch screens and defend all over the court — especially interesting in Utah, given the lack of schematic adaptability last season. That upside as a do-it-all defender is what gets him picked.

On offense, Thor is still T.B.D. He has flashes of success from 3-point range, and he’s a springy athlete with the capacity to finish above the rim, but he’s too raw to contribute consistently right away. He coughs the ball up, can’t really dribble, and needs some time to put the pieces together.