NBA Scout Expresses Worries About Potential Utah Jazz Draft Picks

Would the Utah Jazz be making a mistake drafting either of the Thompson twins at 9th-overall?

The Utah Jazz currently enter this year's NBA draft with odds to get the 9th-overall pick, along with already obtaining the 16th and 28th overall selections. With such an opportunity in this upcoming draft, the Jazz will look to keep a heavy focus on this incoming class.

Two potential lottery picks in Amen and Ausar Thompson have been in some news headlines recently. An anonymous NBA scout decided to voice some concerns surrounding the two Overtime Elite twins entering this year's draft, according to Mike Scotto of HoopsHype.

“The Thompson twins are 20 years old playing against guys 16 and 17 years old. It’s tough to trust them.”

- NBA Scout

(Via @MikeAScotto https://t.co/Z3ILxWOJNT) pic.twitter.com/UE92HQ8qKX

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 25, 2023

Amen and Ausar have been consistently projected around the top 5 to 7 selections in the 2023 Draft, so there's definitely a situation where we see one of the Thompson twins falling to the Jazz. For example, in Bleacher Report's latest mock, we see Amen selected third overall, while Ausar gets picked up eighth.

Within the entirety of Overtime Elite, both Thompsons have been among some of the best in the league. Amen Thompson has played 15 games averaging over 16, and close to 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Ausar on the other hand has averaged very similar numbers, with averages of 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.

While both are talented players regardless of the talent they play against, the scout does bring up a good reason for some concern. We've seen countless prospects enter the league who consistently play against poor competition before entering league play, such as in a bad NCAA conference or international league. The Thompson twins could end up resulting no differently.

If Utah can jump up a few spots in this year's draft lottery, or if one of the Thompsons falls to them at 9th, the Jazz may need to take a closer look into them and their true talent as a prospect before selecting them in June's draft.

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