Would Donovan Mitchell go first overall in a 2017 NBA redraft? This national expert makes his case
SALT LAKE CITY — Donovan Mitchell in a Philadelphia 76ers jersey?
Eek. Ew. Gross.
But, at least in this instance, that thought is actually a compliment to the third-year All-Star Utah Jazz guard.
In a tradition that’s becoming as old as time, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, NBA redrafts are commonplace these days. And in the latest episode of Chad Ford’s NBA Big Board podcast, the NBA draft expert and BYU-Hawaii professor tackles doing a 2017 redraft.
New NBA RE-DRAFT Pod! @johnhollinger and I re-draft the 2017 NBA lottery
— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) May 28, 2020
— Jayson Tatum or Donovan Mitchell at No. 1?
— What happened to Markelle Fultz? And where would he be drafted today?
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In Ford’s opinion, Mitchell should be the No. 1 overall selection for that year. Philadelphia, instead, went with guard Markelle Fultz with the top pick in 2017, a selection that didn’t pan out, as the 76ers traded him to Orlando less than two years later.
Mitchell, of course, ended up with the Jazz in a savvy draft night trade with the Denver Nuggets after being taken with the 13th overall pick.
“I’m glad we’ve got our first big surprise of the day,” Ford said on the podcast. “(Mitchell) went 13, has been a bit of a franchise player for the Jazz early on. There’s a number of ways you could have gone here, I mean (Boston’s) Jayson Tatum certainly (is) in that conversation for the No. 1 pick. (Miami’s) Bam Adebayo could definitely be in that conversation.”
Ford then explains why Mitchell — a late riser in the draft process — is his choice for the No. 1 pick.
“I think that in the NBA a guy that can get his own shot anywhere on the court, can play multiple positions in the backcourt and has the sort of competitive fire and intensity that Donovan Mitchell brings to the game every night, if I’m going to build my franchise around a guy that I think can carry me down the road, to me it was a tough decision, but Mitchell was my guy at No. 1,” Ford said.
The Athletic’s John Hollinger, Ford’s guest on the podcast, also shared his selection for the No. 1 pick in a redraft: the Celtics’ Tatum. Boston took the forward with the third overall selection in 2017.
“I look at Jayson Tatum, and the ability to find wings with size who can shoot and play multiple positions the way he does, and defend well, too, that’s really the holy grail. That’s the hardest thing to fill. It’s so hard to find guys like that,” Hollinger said.
Hollinger further explained why Mitchell should be a strong contender for the top spot in the 2017 redraft, noting several ways the former Louisville star has improved since his college days.
“Teams were worried about his size at the 2, didn’t really see him as a point guard, which I think proved correct, and were worried about a 6-2 guy playing on the perimeter,” Hollinger said. “I think he’s gotten a lot better with some subtle stuff, especially when he gets closer to the rim — he was all two-foot leaping at Louisville. He’s gotten a lot better about using one-steps, Euro steps and finishing his drives. Just his overall athletic ability, I think people underestimated that.”