Where Is Kam Jones Showing Up In NBA Mock Drafts?

Hey, y’all!

The NBA Draft Combine came and went on May 13th through the 15th. Since we’ve put some time in between then and now, it’s time to circle back to take a peek at NBA Mock Drafts to see where Kam Jones, your favorite Marquette Golden Eagles men’s basketball #2 all-time scorer, is landing.

Gonna warn you: It’s not the most optimistic information that we’ve ever seen in our entire lives.

ESPN (5/19): #53, Utah Jazz

NBADraft.net (5/24): #53 Utah Jazz

Yahoo Sports Mock Draft (5/19): #41, Golden State Warriors

Hey, finally, some analysis. Here’s what Kevin O’Connor said:

What’s become apparent watching the Warriors without Stephen Curry is the need for more reliable shot creation. Jones offers crafty combo guard skills with advanced shot creation and a blossoming playmaking feel. But his so-so athleticism and streaky shooting paint him as just a cog rather than the rare star upperclassmen set to enter the league. That’s perfectly fine for the Warriors, as long as he’s able to find better consistency as a shooter.

Yahoo Sports Big Board: #39

Here’s KOC’s summary of his extensive scouting report:

Jones offers crafty combo guard skills with advanced shot creation and a blossoming playmaking feel. But his so-so athleticism and streaky shooting paint him as just a cog rather than the rare star upperclassmen set to enter the league.

The comparison? Donte DiVincenzo. Would someone who has watched The Michael Jordan Of Delaware in the NBA more than I have weigh in on this? I think it’s a terrible comp based on what the two guys showed in college.

CBS Sports (5/23): #37, Detroit Pistons

Here’s the analysis from Kyle Boone:

Detroit should continue to be adding shooting and playmaking around Cade Cunningham — both of which are boxes Jones could help tick off. His efficiency last season dipped off but he has tools to be a complementary piece with his playmaking and ability to make shots; Synergy rated him in the 79th percentile last season in catch-and-shoot scenarios when unguarded.

KB has Kam as the #36 prospect in the draft and the #10 point guard prospect.

Tankathon (5/20): #31, Minnesota Timberwolves

If you click through to the profile page, Tankathon has Jones at #33 on their Big Board.

Hoops Hype (5/22): #39, Toronto Raptors

An interesting note here on the NBA section of USA Today Sports: This is an aggregate mock draft. They’re smashing together 10 different mock drafts, some of which haven’t updated after the Combine, and some of which only go out to the end of the first round.

Bleacher Report (5/22): #43, Utah Jazz

Quick analysis from the Combine from Jonathan Wasserman, who says that Jones’ pro comparison is Malik Monk:

Kam Jones measured just 6’3” barefoot and had to leave the first NBA combine scrimmage with an injury. It wasn’t an ideal appearance for the 23-year-old, there is enough tape of his shotmaking, finishing and improved playmaking for teams to start thinking about Jones early in the second round.

It’s worth nothing that there’s also this Bleacher Report-branded mock draft dated May 19th from Wasserman on NBA.com that has Kam Jones at #36 going to the Brooklyn Nets. Slightly different analysis!

Kam Jones didn’t have his best game in Marquette’s NCAA tournament loss to New Mexico, but he’d entered it averaging 28.0 points over his previous three.

The departure of Tyler Kolek helped unlock his playmaking this year, a key development for a 6’5″ guard who has 300-plus career threes and high-level finishing efficiency every season.

Concerns about age or upside possibilities should become less alarming late outside the 20s. Teams just looking for another ball-handler or additional firepower should start to consider Jones once the younger, flashier names are off the board.

It’s important to remember that there are 30 picks in the first round of the NBA Draft, and every first round pick automatically receives a guaranteed contract from the team that selects them, per the Collective Bargaining Agreement. There are 29 picks in the second round this year because the New York Knicks forfeited a pick due to Tomfoolery.

So: If Kam Jones gets picked after #30 — and every mock draft and big board we mentioned here has him after that point — he’s going to have to cross his fingers that the team involved wants to sign him to a deal, which they do not have to do. The closer he gets to #59, the closer he gets to perhaps going undrafted.

And just to shoot this one down: No, going undrafted is not better than being a second round pick. Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro were second round picks last year and immediately received multi-year guaranteed contracts from the Knicks and the Suns respectively. Going undrafted means slogging through Summer League and Training Camp and hoping that someone decides to take a chance on you. At least with a second round pick, a team spent some amount of draft capital on you and has some kind of investment in your success.

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