NBA: Top 10 candidates for Rookie of the Year Award in 2017-18

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images /
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8. Donovan Mitchell

If Donovan Mitchell had a clearer path to starter’s minutes, he’d easily be the dark horse pick of this list. Unfortunately, he’ll have to fight for every minute Quin Snyder is willing to give him, competing with the likes of Rodney Hood, Alec Burks, Joe Ingles, Joe Johnson and Thabo Sefolosha on the wing.

The Utah Jazz may have lost Gordon Hayward, but they were a potential 60-win team if not for all the injuries they sustained. The Jazz still have their sights set on the postseason, which could limit Mitchell’s opportunities if he’s not as NBA-ready as he looked during Summer League.

In three Utah games, Mitchell put up an eye-popping 25.3 points, 3.3 assists and 3.3 steals per game. He followed that up with 28.0 points and 6.0 steals per game in two Summer League appearances in Sin City.

The early returns are clearly looking good, but can Mitchell be efficient enough to not only earn minutes in the rotation, but prove himself as a designated scorer off the bench? It seems unlikely to happen in his first NBA season, but his strong Summer League play has to put him on the ROY radar in some capacity.