2018 NBA Mock Draft: If need were all that mattered

I saw Okobo in Phoenix at a Suns draft workout this week, and the most interesting thing I learned talking to the young French scorer is that he has a reasonable buyout in his contract after this season, his second at Pau-Orthez. He will be available for a team like the Jazz to draft him and take control of his development.

Okobo burst onto the scene with a 44-point performance in the French league against Monaco in late May, showing off the scoring touch he has been gifted with as a 6-5 ball-handler with point guard quickness. The 20-year-old said he has gotten solid feedback from teams so far in the draft process (the Phoenix workout was his second of 12) about his playmaking. Suns assistant general manager Pat Connelly agreed, saying that Okobo’s passing has been the biggest development in his game so far this season, despite the insane scoring night he had against Monaco.

Utah will always be attached to international players because of coach Quin Snyder’s experience at CSKA Moscow and the numerous international players and coaches already on the Jazz bench. Okobo would join Rudy Gobert, Ricky Rubio and several role players on the team, hopefully easing his transition to American sports.

A long, dynamic offensive player with defensive tools, Okobo is a perfect piece for coach Quin Snyder’s system. There’s a limit to what a team can do offensively playing two big men and Rubio at the same time — the Jazz need flexibility. Okobo would bring what predecessors Dante Exum and Trey Burke could not.