The Utah Jazz are in draft mode

The Utah Jazz continue to bring in an impressive amount of high level prospects for pre-draft workouts. Today’s draft workout includes Keita Bates-Diop who is currently slated by Jonathan Givony of ESPN to go 18th in the draft.

Here’s what ESPN had to say about Bates-Diop:

“...He increased his stock dramatically with a breakout season, moving among all of the frontcourt positions for an overachieving Ohio State team. He looks like an ideal fit for the modern NBA if he can find a way to rev his motor into higher gear.”

Donovan Mitchell has set a great precedent for the Utah Jazz. Player agents know that if their players are drafted by the Jazz, their players will reach their full potential.

And don’t take this for granted. Getting players like this is no small thing. In the past, players might look over the Utah Jazz and only work out for them if they fell within their projected range.

Now, players and agents jump on the chance to work out for them. And everything you hear in interviews are glowing endorsements of the Jazz team and staff. It’s clear that Dennis Lindsey has set up an environment that young players want to be a part of.

Local prospect Kenneth Ogbe was brought in to work out for the Utah Jazz.

It’s great to see the Jazz bring in local players and make sure not to pass on any possible local stars. You never know who might be the next Kyle Kuzma or Damian Lillard.

I really enjoyed this artwork by Riley Gisseman mostly because I have a very strong mancrush on Donte Divincenzo as a prospect.

But when you look closer, you notice that Donte also liked this picture.

Divincenzo already had a pre-draft workout with the Jazz and had nothing but good things to say about the organization and its players.

Is this the next great late first round pick for the Jazz? We’ll find out. Until then I’m going to watch these draft combine highlights on repeat.

One of the best stories this year for the Jazz was the rise of Royce O’neale.

O’neale’s surprising play made trading Rodney Hood more palatable. He also stabilized the starting lineup during the stretches where Ricky Rubio was injured. So much so that the Jazz were 4-0 during the season when O’neale started.

O’neale is only going to get better and should be a major part of the Jazz future going forward. Not bad for an undrafted rookie.

As you’ve probably heard, Donovan Mitchell was named to the all-rookie 1st team. Here are some highlights of Mitchell and all the runner-ups to the rookie of the year.