2018 NBA Mock Draft: What do playoff teams need?

Thomas makes a surprise re-appearance in this week’s mock to account for the sudden buzz swallowing up draft followers and fans of the young teams looking to add talent. Those people probably see a quintessential modern off-guard, someone who could play as the fifth-best guy on a team of stars and thrive.

He’s a bulldog defender and a good shooter, the type of player who is searched for by good teams each summer. For the Jazz, Thomas would represent a stylistically different option next to Donovan Mitchell than Ricky Rubio, someone more capable of knocking down open shots and who doesn’t need the ball to be effective. It would also lighten the load on Mitchell defensively, where he could avoid matching up against the best guard scorer every night like he has had to this season.

Outside of Thabo Sefolosha early in the season, Mitchell has taken on the opposing team’s best offensive player more than any of his teammates. That’s not an ideal recipe for your primary offensive option, especially one who faces disadvantages and has to work incredibly hard against bigger guards.

Thomas would settle Mitchell’s role down a bit, either off the bench or in the starting lineup as secondary ball-handler.