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Utah Jazz: Donovan Mitchell proving he was steal of the 2017 NBA Draft

By Mitchell Hansen

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 20: Donovan Mitchell
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 20: Donovan Mitchell /
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With his early-season production, Donovan Mitchell is showing all of us why he was the steal of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Heading into the 2017 NBA Draft last June, all eyes were focused on the top of the draft.

What are the Boston Celtics thinking trading away the No. 1 pick to the Philadelphia 76ers? Are the Sixers going to select the long-assumed top pick in Markelle Fultz? Will Lonzo Ball indeed end up with the Los Angeles Lakers like his dad predicted (and often demanded)?

All eyes were at the top, and for good reason. The 2017 draft class was viewed as a field containing a large amount of talent, led by the handful of promising prospects at the top.

But as everyone looked at the top of the field, the Utah Jazz had their eye on the guy they wanted the whole time.

That guy was Donovan Mitchell.

That sparked a draft night trade by the Jazz, sending Trey Lyles and their No. 24 pick (which ended up being Tyler Lydon) to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Mitchell.

So far, Mitchell is proving to be one of the steals of the draft.

Since the start of the season, Mitchell has been a key addition to the new-look Utah team after the departure of Gordon Hayward.

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Trading John Collins already is a very bad idea for the Utah Jazz, especially for Kyle Kuzma
Trading John Collins already is a very bad idea for the Utah Jazz, especially for Kyle Kuzma /

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    • Following Friday night’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets, Mitchell is averaging 14.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.6 blocks in 27.8 minutes per game. Per 36 minutes, that comes out to 19.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.7 blocks per game.

    Mitchell has also been a key defensive presence on one of the top defensive teams in the league. According to Basketball-reference.com, through 15 games, the rookie guard holds a defensive win shares total of 0.5, which is tied for 60th in the entire NBA.

    Not bad numbers at all for a rookie taken in the middle of the first round of the draft.

    Among rookies that were selected in the 2017 NBA Draft — which excludes 76ers rookie Ben Simmons, who was drafted in 2016 — Mitchell ranks third in scoring, third in free throw percentage, fourth in steals, sixth in assists, ninth in blocks, 11th in 3-point percentage,15th in field goal percentage and 16th in rebounding, all while ranking seventh in minutes per game.

    It’s clear that the Jazz are excited about the addition of Mitchell, giving him more playing time as the season progresses. So far this season, he’s been producing while getting all of that playing time.

    Compared to what Utah gave up in order to get Mitchell, early indications point to the Jazz making the right choice. The two players that the Nuggets received in return, Lyles and Lydon, have been less than impressive this year.

    Lyles has appeared in 10 games for Denver, averaging 2.5 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.3 blocks in 4.6 minutes a game. Lydon, who is currently sidelined with an ankle injury, has yet to play in a game this season.

    Next: 2017-18 Week 5 NBA Power Rankings

    Early on in the 2017-18 season, it’s clear that Mitchell has been and will continue to be a key piece in Utah this season. Considering where he was drafted and what Utah gave up to get the talented rookie guard, many are starting to look back and see that Mitchell was one of the steals of the draft.

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