2023 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Arkansas guards, SEC prominent in lottery

The Jazz rebuild is on a potentially accelerated timeline thanks to the brilliance of 25-year-old Lauri Markkanen. Enter Cason Wallace, who projects as a rock-solid NBA contributor from day one. Danny Ainge loves his star point guards, and while Wallace might not have the high ceiling of Kyrie Irving or even Boston-prime Isaiah Thomas, he’s plenty promising.

First and foremost, Wallace could be one of the league’s most disruptive perimeter defenders from the jump. He gets after it on that end of the floor, constantly bottling up ball-handlers at the point of attack with his 6-foot-8 wingspan. Let him roam in passing lanes, and Wallace will swiftly accumulate deflections and generate fast break opportunities.

Utah’s defense has been rocky all year, and the recent departure of Jarred Vanderbilt will do them no favors. Wallace might not be able to anchor a defense on the perimeter, but he’s more versatile than your typical 6-foot-3 guard and he’s an absolute tone-setter.

Offensively, there’s plenty to like as well. Wallace shoots a comfortable 3-ball and his soft touch on floaters is a positive indicator when projecting his scoring upside long-term. Wallace is a heady playmaker who thrives out of pick-and-rolls, and he’s capable of functioning off the ball next to other high-volume creators.