NBA Mock Draft: Utah Jazz Selects Ike Anigbogu From UCLA

NBA Mock Draft Pick #24 -- Ike Anigbogu, Power Forward, UCLA

SBNation’s Utah Jazz blog SLC Dunk explains their pick:

The Utah Jazz, regardless of what happens with Gordon Hayward or who ends up starting at point guard, will only go as far as their talented bigmen can take them. And the injury plagued team needs to bulk up and beef up if they want to make sure Defensive Player of the Year candidate Rudy Gobert is healthy come playoff time. We all saw what the team looks like when he’s out. And it doesn’t look good. That’s why the team is picking Ike Anigbogu with their first of two 1st rounders in 2017. The UCLA bigman is two inches shorter than unrestricted free agent “NBA 7 footer” Jeff Withey. And I would expect Anigbogu to fill into that guaranteed salary roster spot. The late first rounder will probably be cheaper as well, but not worse. Ike has the same 9’2.5” standing reach, but a superior 7’6.25” wingspan to Withey’s 7’2”. According to the combine data, he’s more athletic, has larger hands, is a much bigger body, and has a faster North/South speed. He can be a defensive force even if he’s just 18. While he is very raw, inexperienced, and undisciplined it’s not going to matter as he’s not going to need to play big minutes. In Utah he will be able to make big mistakes in low minutes as he caddies for Gobert. His size is going to allow the team to funnel players into the middle while Rudy is resting. There will be blocks. Moreover, there will be solid screens as well. If that’s all he does as a rookie that’ll be enough. Utah can develop him without urgency.

1. Boston Celtics - MARKELLE FULTZ, WASHINGTON

2. Los Angeles Lakers - LONZO BALL, UCLA

3. Philadelphia 76ers - JOSH JACKSON, KANSAS

4. Phoenix Suns - JONATHAN ISAAC, FLORIDA STATE

5. Sacramento Kings - DE’AARON FOX, KENTUCKY

6. Orlando Magic - JAYSON TATUM, DUKE

7. Minnesota Timberwolves - MALIK MONK, KENTUCKY

8. New York Knicks - FRANK NTILIKINA, FRANCE

9. Dallas Mavericks - DENNIS SMITH, NC STATE

10. Sacramento Kings - LAURI MARKKANEN, ARIZONA

11. Charlotte Hornets - DONOVAN MITCHELL, LOUISVILLE

12. Detroit Pistons - ZACH COLLINS, GONZAGA

13. Denver Nuggets - OG ANUNOBY, INDIANA

14. Miami Heat - TJ LEAF, UCLA

15. Portland Trail Blazers - LUKE KENNARD, DUKE

16. Chicago Bulls - DJ WILSON, MICHIGAN

17. Milwaukee Bucks - HARRY GILES, DUKE

18. Indiana Pacers - JUSTIN JACKSON, NORTH CAROLINA

19. Atlanta Hawks - JARRETT ALLEN, TEXAS

20. Portland Trail Blazers - JOHN COLLINS, WAKE FOREST

21. Oklahoma City Thunder - TYLER LYDON, SYRACUSE

22. Brooklyn Nets - ISAIAH HARTENSTEIN, GERMANY

23. Toronto Raptors - SEMI OJELEYE, SMU

24. Utah Jazz - IKE ANIGBOGU, UCLA

25. Orlando Magic -

26. Portland Trail Blazers -

27. Brooklyn Nets -

28. Los Angeles Lakers -

29. San Antonio Spurs -

30. Utah Jazz -