Report: Donovan Mitchell Fifth-Best Franchise Player Under 25
Sep 21, 2020, 1:07 PM
Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics with Team USA (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Donovan Mitchell was ranked the fifth-best player under 25 years old to build a team around by NBA talent evaluators. According to Michael Scotto from HoopsHype, Mitchell earned the ranking behind Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, and Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant.
The talent evaluators made up of scouts, general managers, and team executives ranked their top five players under 25 that they would choose to build a future roster around. Doncic was unanimously ranked in first place after leading to the Mavericks to a near-upset of the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the playoffs.
Mitchell tied with Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo who like the Jazz guard, made his All-Star debut in his third season in the NBA.
Story: Which player under 25 would you build a team around? NBA executives and scouts share their thoughts on @hoopshype. You may be surprised where Zion Williamson ended up 👀 https://t.co/Ej9YJVrBJw
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) September 21, 2020
“He can score at will,” An executive told HoopsHype. “He has defensive potential. I just think he’s a really good all-around player.”
Mitchell nearly led the Jazz to an upset of the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. The All-Star guard averaged a league-leading 36.3 points, five rebounds, and 4.9 assists as the Jazz were eliminated by the Nuggets in seven games.
“Booker and Murray were both really close to Mitchell, but I think Mitchell is the more complete player on the offensive end, and I just think he’s got the mentality to reach his full potential,” One scout told HoopsHype. “You have the ability to play him at the point guard spot next to a good shooting guard or play him off of the ball next to a good point guard. That versatility is something I value when looking to build out a team.”
Spida (51 PTS) was unstoppable tonight 😱
Mitchell and Utah take a 3-1 series lead! pic.twitter.com/UoCiDtZZRt
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 24, 2020
Mitchell ranked ahead of other under 25 stars including New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson, Nuggets guard Jamal Muray, Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons, Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, and Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns.
