4 Prospects Being Mocked to Jazz in 2023 NBA Draft

Who will be suiting up for the Utah Jazz in 2023-24?

With the NBA All-Star weekend finally upon us, it’s a good time to take a peek at what prospects could be suiting up in a Utah Jazz uniform come the 2023-24 season. With where things stand, the mock drafts have the Jazz trending to be picking in the 12-13 range. 

Utah has needs all across the board, so it’s not surprising that four outlets are projecting four different players who may be calling Salt Lake City home next year.

Cason Wallace | Bleacher Report

Wallace makes a lot of sense for the Jazz, considering that point guard is arguably their biggest position of need. Collin Sexton has moved into the starting lineup with the departure of Mike Conley, but because of defensive liabilities, the former No. 8 overall pick's future may be limited to a sixth man role. 

Wallace is currently averaging 11.6 ppg while dishing out four assists as a freshman for the University of Kentucky. The 19-year-old prospect’s strengths are on the defensive end while having the ability to guard different positions, which is becoming a necessity for a starting point guard in today’s NBA. 

It’s unclear whether Wallace will play the one or the two at the next level, although if Jordan Clarkson re-signs with the Jazz, head coach Will Hardy would want to groom Wallace to be Utah’s starting point guard of the future.

Rayan Rupert | The Athletic

Rupert is another defensive specialist whose skill set fits within the parameters of a positionless style of basketball. Standing at 6-foot-7 with an impressive 7-foot-3 inch wingspan, the 18-year-old from France has an unlimited ceiling but wouldn’t be projected to make an immediate impact in year one. 

With an offensive game that’s currently a little rough around the edges, Rupert could be a candidate to spend some time in the G-league in 2023-24. However, it may be worth the wait considering Utah’s timeline to be contending for a championship.

Ausar Thompson | NBC Sports

Thompson is a 19-year-old freak athlete that skipped the college route and is currently playing for the Overtime Elite along with his twin brother, Amen. Thompson is another physical specimen standing at 6-foot-7 paired with a 6-foot-11-inch wingspan. 

Having Thompson, Lauri Markkanen, and Walker Kessler on the floor together would contribute to the positional size that Jazz executive Danny Ainge was able to create in Boston. Thompson isn’t considered a pure shooter at this stage of his career, but at his age, there’s plenty of time for development. 

The Jazz may need to lose a few more games in order for Thompson to feasibly land in Salt Lake City, with the young prospect potentially being a top-eight pick.

Jordan Hawkins | CBS Sports

The 21-year-old combo guard out of UConn is currently averaging 16.2 ppg on 41.5% shooting. Hawkins has the tools to make an impact at the next level in year one. 

He's a player that has an elite mid-range game and can fill it up in transition, half-court sets, and has a knack for getting to the free-throw line. However, keep in mind the Jazz already have Ochai Agbaji and potentially Clarkson under contract for next year. 

Considering the current state of the roster, Utah may be better served to draft a point guard or a wing that can play the three and the four spots.

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