State of the Utah Jazz + Who are the Draft Prospects to Know?
What do the Jazz’s trade moves really indicate for the near future of the Utah Jazz as in here’s a primer for the rest of this season and the 2024 draft and how it factors in for the Utah Jazz on locked on Jazz coming up next you are locked on Jazz your daily
Podcast on the Utah Jazz part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day welcome into locked on Jazz my name is leaf tulen and I’m excited and honored to fill in for David lock on locked on Jazz I’m a lifelong Utah Jazz fan as you
May remember I filled in this summer and not only am I a lifelong jazz fan with the best interest of the Jazz at heart I’m a credential NBA draft analyst for Lockton NBA bigboard attendee of the 2023 NBA Combine Utah Jazz broadcast assistant and statistician for the past three
Seasons including this one and lover of college basketball so don’t expect all the geeky numbers of usual to be gone but I’ll bring a unique perspective as a DieHard NBA and college hoops fan so I’ll tie in what’s going to happen for the Utah Jazz rest of the season and
What college players or International Players could be on the Utah Jazz next year depending where the Jazz Select and I’ll take you through all those possibilities coming up next thanks for making locked on Jazz your first listen every day and remember lock on jazz is free and available on all platforms
Including YouTube at lockon jazz where the best way to help us grow is comment anything below but I’ve got a question for you and I’d love to hear your answers who do you want the Jaz to draft and I’ll do your be do my best to get
Back to you on your answers and give analysis and insight on those players today’s title sponsors prize pick so thank you to them for sponsoring the show but make sure to check out their projections and play today on prize.com lockon NBA all right let me take you through
What what is a jam-packed episode in the first segment I’ll break down the state of the Jazz Jazz post trade line where since the Jazz have dealt Kelly Lin Simone fonio and O baji the Jazz are winless and what I am looking for for
The rest of the year both in terms of on the basketball court and the future in terms of who the Jazz could look to improve their roster with in the NBA draft and what players will stand out at the rest of the season to make their name and contend for more minutes next
Year in the second segment I’ll discuss who I think are candidates for the Jazz to be picked within the top 10 should the Jazz have a selection in the top 10 uh and not convey that pick to Oklahoma City and then in the third segment I’ll discuss my favorite options for the Jazz
In the late first round and early second round using the picks they acquired at the deadline from Toronto and Detroit respectively and I will take you through the players that I think will be in the consideration for the Jazz and who I personally as a draft analyst would favor in those draft
Selections all right let’s Dive Right into this I figur it’s only right to talk a little bit of Draft when I’m backed on lock on jazz uh in the next two days because the Jazz recently acquired two picks and because of the recent down uh downfall in the in
The Jazz’s play the Jazz have not played well they’ve lost four straight games coming out of the trade deadline and have fallen four games behind below 500 and a few games behind the Warriors as well as some of the teams that hold playing positions which the Jazz held
Prior to the trade deadline I’m going to talk about some of the options for the Jazz finishing out this season both in terms of which players should play more how they’re playing what my thoughts are on the tener of the team having worked around the team as well as what
Prospects should the Jazz fans familiarize themselves with should the Jazz hold on to their top 10 pick if it in fact lands inside the top 10 the Jazz are winless since the trade deadline as I mentioned as all of you guys who listen to this know and granted
They face good teams I think that needs to be added everyone says oh they’ve lost all these games and yes the Jazz have played three of them at home that is not necessarily good but they played teams that needed wins and are good basketball teams comprised of stars they
Lost to the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix and that was a difficult game because the Jazz were short-handed then they lost three straight home games that’s the rough part but you played the Warriors led by Steph Curry and that was just after making these deals that’s difficult then you played the Lakers the
Lakers came in and really killed the jet that was the concerning one then you play The Warriors very close the more concerning part of those games is how they’ve lost it’s been uh ineptitude on the defensive end they gave up 129 to the Suns 129 to the Warriors the first
Time 138 to the Lakers and 140 against the Warriors the second time amounting to that 0 and4 record with a net margin of minus 14 meaning that they’re losing by about 14 points per game in those four games and three of them are at home
So that does not bode well but I want to be really clear crystal clear on this I think Hardy and the Jazz coaching staff have been spectacular this season and I’m not just saying this to be positive propaganda but the Jazz started the year seven and6 with a lineup that wasn’t
Doing particularly well found their way to above 500 at various stints in this season as recently as a few weeks ago and they were able to do so by comprising a unit of 10 players that are that amount to more than your five what
I mean by that is that jazz found a way to get 240 minutes filled and yes there’s 240 minutes in a basketball game there’s 48 minutes by five players the Jazz may not have had the best starting five but they really found a way to get
The most out of their their starting 10 there’s 10 players that would play for the Utah Jazz consistently and they would win games and they were able to get above 500 from nine games below 500 playing a difficult schedule in a lot of road games and taking care of business
At home by playing that bench the issue with that now is a lot of those minutes were comprised of Simone fonio Kelly oen and oag baji all three of whom are not with the Utah Jazz anymore meaning the Jazz will have to prioritize the well meaning the Jazz are prioritizing the
Future and how they’re doing so is that the minutes occupied by fonio and the starting lineup are now going to Keon jarge as keontay George has assumed a starting roles next to Colin ston seon’s playing extra minutes as well dun is now in the second unit Markin and Collins
And Kesler round out that starting lineup as you guys all know and and then that means okay who’s filling oin minutes who’s filling the remainder of pono’s minutes that aren’t just additional for George well that means a few other players will have to play It’s the young guys that are filling these
Minutes but they’re doing it in different positions in essence the starting minutes are being vacated by Simone are being filled by keante who’s playing eight more minutes per game than his previous average including those four games factoring into his a average positively so he’s probably playing if
You took out those four games about 11 more minutes per game and he scored 33 in one of them that’s what you play by prioritizing your future saying you know what if we start him even though the unit was working very well with dun we get more out of the immediate future and
The long-term future by prioritizing a guy we think is a Cornerstone of the franchise the other player who’s behooved from this is Walker Kessler Kessler’s playing four more minutes per game than he had previously filling some vacancies in the front Court he’s also playing alongside John Collins and that
Is different he started there at the beginning of the year and there was a lot of criticism but Walker Kessler’s got an uptick in production and he’s been better and playing more he’s someone that I think and the Jazz think is going to be a Cornerstone for their
Future and then perhaps the biggest difference numerically in terms of players jumping in minutes is going to be Taylor Hendricks obviously you can talk about dun not starting other players being moved in their roles but Taylor Hendricks was the ninth pick of this last year and he in the last four
Games was playing 17 minutes per game which eclipses his numbers by a large margin and the Jazz are sticking through through it with him it’s not been a perfect experience you’ve seen a lot of open misses but he shot 39% in college you’re seeing him learn on the fly but
The Jazz are sticking to their guns and helping the young guy develop and that’s what matters the Jazz at the time of the trade deadline were in 10th place in the west and have since Fallen to 11th but those games were against the Warriors I
Know that and it makes it harder to come back the Rockets are on the Jazz’s tail and the teams in front of the Warriors are going to be difficult to C as well as the Warriors are going to be different to difficult to catch as they’re playing good basketball and have
Beaten the Jazz recently but through thick and thin the Jazz are committing to the youth Staples of the core presently and in the future and are struggling not only just because oh these players are playing more and they’re not ready for it but also some of those guys that are key cogs have
Really struggled without the presence of Kelly oen namely I me I mentioned the defensive LS but offensively without alen fono alen and fono Lowry has yet to reach his season average once in those four games and Clarkson has been inefficient in all four of those games it doesn’t bode well on the winning
Front to make the play in when your best players offensively are struggling to adapt but it does bode well that they’re playing with the players of the future s symbolizing the true core now in those games lost the Jazz lost twice to a team that that they’re in direct competition
With so I think it gets difficult but what that does mean is should the Jazz fall inside the or outside of the play that means they have a great chance of keeping their pick and what that means is they’re picking inside the top 10 if
You pick within the top 10 the top 10 pick is protected and though this is not a draft that you’re like oh my goodness we can’t miss out on this supreme Talent there are players that you think can make an immediate and long-term impact on your your franchise’s future and so I
Think the draft is more important than people are realizing this year obviously I’m going to say that because I love the draft I study the draft draft and I work with the draft but the Jazz now have three picks likely two for sure and likely a third based on the rates of
This so I’m going to take you through that the Jazz have a top 10 lottery pick probably if this continues to follow through and the Jazz miss the plan meaning 20 teams make the playin or the playoffs and then 10 teams miss out on it if the Jazz are in that then they
Protect their pick the Jazz also gain the least favorable pick from the Thunder the Wolves the Clippers that’ll be the late first round likely 27 through 30 and then the Jazz also have a pick from the Pistons that they got for Simone that’ll that actually will belong
To either the Wizards or the Hornets that’ll likely be 32 through 34 those are good picks that’s been a productive area in the draft so I’m going to take you through what is called a bad draft devoid of talent but I’ve pinpointed some prospects that I think are talented
And could really help a jazz team in the immediate uh future as well as the long-term future at all three picks in this draft and I’m going to take you through that coming up next but first let me tell you about prize picks prize picks is America’s number one fantasy
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One welcome back into locked on Jazz and in this segment we’ll discuss who I believe is in the mix for the Jazz’s likely first pick of the 2024 NBA draft within the top 10 of the NBA draft but by the way have you heard lockon has launched their first ever National
Sports 247 streaming Channel on YouTube and it’s also available on Amazon Fire TV and the free Fire TV channels app locked on sports today is here for your 247 covering the top sports stories of the day with the local Experts of lockon Plus for our national shows covering
Every League find locked on sports today now available on the free Fire TV channels app that’s an awesome development so I highly recommend listening to that and watching it on your Fire TV but let me take you through the NBA draft who is in this draft you don’t
Have a wenyama headlining you don’t have yourself the chat homr the Poo Bano that’s everyone’s gripe but there is depth to this class so not only do the Jazz have three picks all of a sudden out of what was presumed to be zero or I should say there they have two picks and
It looks probably based on what we talked about in the last segment that it could be three so there are a few freshman guards at the tail end of the lottery that I want to start off with but I do think that the Jazz likely don’t end up picking but I’d be
Neglectful if I didn’t message it uh make make that message of these players are available because they’re the headliners in terms of they go to a big school and they score a lot of points so the Jazz are looking at every position and and are very much oriented of Best
Player available not fit the Jazz don’t have enough players to be selective in oh we we have a player at that position we don’t need him but I just don’t think the Jazz will take either Reed Shepard or Rob Dillingham Shepard is a sharpshooter who has risen up the boards
Tremendously because he was 23rd ranked out of high school according to the ESPN 100 he’s a very very good shooter shoot scores 12 points per game four rebounds four assists four 53% from the field 51% from three and an 81 % shooter from the free throw line excellent shooter has
All the intangibles you could think of his father and mother played Collegiate basketball and his metrics are good his analytics are good he shoots it very well he is hardly played point guard but he lacks the size to be a shooting guard that’s probably the the drawback that
You’ll hear most frequently Kenny play point guard and that accelerates the stock I’ve heard from various Scouts I spoke to Rafael Barlo about this who mentioned he spoken to Scouts that think he can play the point guard that makes him more interesting but I do not think
He’s got the talent to supersede a guy like Keon George and I know I just said the best player available but I have a hard time believing that he’ll be the best player available for the Jazz at the position of point guard and I don’t think he’s quite the shooting guard the
Jazz are looking to get bigger in their back court as their back court is comprised of a 61 shooting guard and now in Colin ston uh he’s he steals the ball and blocks the ball at an alarming rate for a guard but I don’t think he’s a great
On ball Defender despite The Narrative of oh he’s he’s similar to Derek white that that to me is embellishment and people cherry-picking defensive highlights as opposed to watching the film of him defending uh I do think that he’s got a spot in the NBA but I
Wouldn’t take him in the top 10 which is where the Jazz would have to be taking if they do in fact have this pick his teammate who is kind of a controversial player in draft circles but is an electric one at that is Rob Dillingham Dillingham came in as the 15th ranked
Player in the ESPN 100 at Kentucky right now he’s scoring 15 points per game three rebounds per game four assists per game 49% from the field 45 from three 73% from the free throw line and he is lightning quick he creates more easily than anyone college basketball he’s a
Lightning rod and he honestly is the metronome for Kentucky uh he’s polarizing because he’s lightning in a bottle often compared to to some of those players that you would say are sixthman archetypes but that’s unfavorable in the sense that he’s supposed to be a lottery pick so if
You’re compared to the likes of Lou Williams or bones Highland uh because of his build he’s very slender and quick and an offensively minded player uh I don’t know if that’s necessarily a a a comparison that you’re too thrilled with based on where You’ be picked if that makes sense but I think
He he AR I would make the argument that he possesses better playmaking skills than either of those players and he’s very quick but frail and erratic in terms of his offense in terms of his defensive effort and at times his offensive aggression is very good but he
Doesn’t pass at the same rate he’ll either score or or he’ll try to play point guard too much and takes away from his offensive Outburst capabilities but Kentucky for both these players has a pension for having guards overachieved their most recent lottery pick from Kentucky was Cas Wallace and he’s been
Spectacular for the Thunder and I don’t need to tell you about Jamaal Murray Tyrese Maxi all these guys who are All-Star caliber guards from Kentucky that develop in the NBA beautifully so those guys are people in contention for the Jazz to be taking them I just don’t personally see it the other freshman
Guard that I think is in contention for the Jazz to take is Yukon stefen Castle he’s a guard but he’s far bigger than either Dillingham or Shepard he’s at 66 nearly 200 pounds he was 12th in the ESPN 100 he is on the best team in college basketball in my opinion and
They’re ranked number one unanimously this week so that would support it uh he’s playing a key role on that team getting to the rack scoring 11 per game four rebound three assists on a very egalitarian team led by upper classman 48% from the field 33% from three and
70% from the free throw line his impediment is consistency shooting H and that that is something to be concerned about because right now the NBA is predicated on who can shoot who can score and but that said he’s able to put an immense pressure on the rim he’s
Shooting better of late since he’s recovered from a knee injury and he already despite missing games for a knee injury and lacking a bit of explosion for some of them has 14 dunks as a guard in college basketball that isn’t playing with the ball in his hands all the time
He is able to get downhill he’s able to create for others and he’s playing on a winning team able to play a role and that’s something that I it’s controversial do you want the star to to drop down to a a role do you want the role player that you think can uh
Blossom into a star we’ll see but he’s someone that the Jazz I think would take a long look at to try to put size in the back court along with Keon George who the Jazz are very optimistic about having just scored 33 against the Warriors in an impressive performance uh
I’ll mention a few other names but I do think they’ll go higher in the draft than the where I project the Jazz to pick but the lottery Gods could favor the Jazz uh the best Collegiate player in my opinion is Cody Williams the younger brother of Oklahoma City thunderwing Jaylen Williams and I
Believe he’ll go in the top three I I’m very high on him I compare I put him in my top two I gave a comprehensive breakdown on him with Rafael Barlo and locked in NBA big word if you want to check that I I just I compared him to
Jaylen Rose someone who’s a jumbo siiz playmaker who was able to score 24 25 points a game in the 2000s when the then the ball was slown down I thought I think that Cody Williams has to grow into his body he’s very thin and slender but he’s got the makings and the natural
Talent to be an NBA wing with point guard skills at 6 foot eight and he’s 18 years old I’m very high on Cody Williams that would be someone I think would be a pipe dream for the jet next let’s get to the Europeans or G League prospects that
The Jazz could be in the picking range of but it really depends preference because these guys are controversial uh my guess would be that g League’s Ron Holland is gone by number six or seven he’s scoring 19 and a half points per game in the G League against
Grown men with seven rebounds per game and a motor that is unbelievably impressive that said he really struggles to shoot the ball shooting 24% from three he’s doing this against grown men I’m typically Pro playing the G league and and I believe in hey if you’re asked
To do a lot against Pros you’ll be able to co uh just move up to the actual NBA as opposed to the G league and you’ll be able to find a role and eventually settle in it’s been controversial to see if the G league has had that success
Because you’ve seen guys even like Jaylen green Jonathan kuminga get off to Rocky starts then pick it up and and there will be more evidence in coming years but Jaden Hardy would be one to the contrary he fell to 37th because of his inefficiency I think the side of Holland who’s about
6’7 uh he’s he’s a very good athlete he’s a great point of attack Defender at least figures that he could be um needs to more consistent mechanics and his ability to have scored in the n in the G League setting uh puts him but just beyond where I project the Jazz will
Pick but I need to go over him now there’s Ron Holland’s teammate and that’s Matas buis they’re directly foiled against one another Matas balis is 6’10 guard who weighs 195 5 pounds but at times he’s propagandized The Stereotype of Europeans being soft and I’m not saying that to be too too
Critical but that’s the big the big like line on him is that if if you could combine Holland and buellis that’d be a perfect Prospect because he’s got all the skill and finesse and Holland’s Got the dogged aggression and perimeter defense the quick twitch that you look
For in your onea option I’ve been critical of buellis at times I I was critical in their first couple games this year where I thought Holland was the better Prospect that’s polar ring among draft people but there’s a chance both or one of these guys could fall because different teams may have
Different preferences but buella has had a very nice showing in the rising stars game recently and he’s playing well right now he’s scoring 13 points six rebounds two assists but he he also is shooting poorly from three 26% he’s very skill oriented just demonstrates flashes of undeniable skill at a larger size
Relative to the position but he coming into the year was within the top three of the the draft class which is why I probably think he doesn’t fall that far because people are going to say well he was good all along but I do think there’s a chance just because there’s
There’s a lot of differing opinions on buellis and finally the last option I have in at nine on my board personally is a project some have lab labeled as theoretical but I see tremendous upside size and athleticism that’s tjon Salon a 6 foot n 23 pound 18-year-old athlete
From France who’s playing for cholet basket which is a good team in France and he demonstrates a Grace and physicality with which he moves he’s in order to be a good Defender with an impressive shooting numbers that’s what people are projecting to be similar to like Taylor Hendricks or someone like
That but he’s he’s doing the shooting before people would have projected and I think the athleticism is is already there and everyone expects that I think he’s ahead of the curve and I actually expect a kind of balal kabali like tra uh trajectory a rise through the draft
Boards in May and June he’s shooting 36% from three and 79% from the free throw line and he’s a tremendous athlete who projects to be a very good Defender so that those are some guys that the Jazz could be taking in the top 10 should that pick arise I’ll tell you who’s
Going to factor into the later round pick in the first round and the early second round pick for the Jazz coming up next but by the way this show is brought to you by better help sometimes we all need the opportunity to get something off of our chest it it happens and
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Betterhelp.com lockon MBA to get 10% off your first month that’s betterhelp hp.com lockon MBA welcome back to locked on Jazz Leaf to lean with you here for a final segment where I’m going to take you through my favorite prospects for the Jazz at the tail end of the first round
Where the Jazz likely pick 27th through 30th remember it’s the least favorable meaning the best record between the Western Conference powers of the t-wolves the Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers right now as it as it sits at the allstar break the team that the Jazz
Would be getting the pick from would be the Oklahoma City Thunder according to ton and that’s the 28th pick and then the other pick that jazz would get is from the Pistons but the Pistons actually have the Wizards and the uh the Hornets pick and right now
The Jazz are projected to have 28 and 32 so I’ll tell you who I like at those picks I rush through a lot of guys near the top this one I’m going to have a a smaller list of um and I’ll I’ll break down why I like these players for the
Utah Jazz where they are and why I think they’re ahead of where many players value them or me many evaluators evaluate them as being in mock drafts if you’re just to look and try to get yourself familiarized with who the Jazz could be picking because I know a lot of
People get into that later but the Jazz now have picks and they haven’t had them earlier in the season so the Jazz fans that are listening to this may be intrigued by who the Jazz could be interested in so the Jazz acquired these picks at the trade deadline from Toronto
For Kelly oen and Oak baji is the first- round pick uh Detroit for Simone fonio gave the Jazz the second round pick so these Jazz picks do not hinge on the Jazz’s record these are on two of the worst teams in the NBA and in terms of
The second round pick and so that one will be a high second round pick and the first one will be a very low first round pick because they hinge on the success of the best teams in the NBA recent years there’s been a lot of success
Stories in this in this neck of the woods of the draft Desmond Bane went 30th Jaden McDaniels 28th herb Jones went in the mid-30s Robert Williams went 27th so you can strike gold and it’s happening with more and more frequency in recent years as scouting has gotten better I believe this draft despite
Lacking for topend star power does have good depth the first Target in this vicinity in my opinion should be jayen Tyson of Cal he is 6 fo7 and 215 pounds so a big Wing which is something that there cannot be enough of in today’s NBA
He is on his third year in three schools which is doing him absolutely zero favors in the eyes of evaluators but if you read into his transfers he dealt with problematic coaches and both were fired the year after he was there meaning transferred probably due to the coaches
Chris beard from Texas ended up gone and he is in uh Old Miss right now and there is a guy named Adams who is at Texas Tech who is fired and has not gotten a job back and I don’t want to go into the specifics but Jaylen Tyson’s transferred
Three schools typically isn’t regarded well means you’re problematic sometimes doesn’t seem to be the case with Jaylen Tyson and right now he’s leading Cal and scoring ing 20 points per game seven rebounds three assists shooting 49% from the field 38% from three and 79% from the free throw line very impressive
Numbers for a upstart team that was devoid of talent and is starting to put together a really good uh season compared to their expectations which were very low in the Pack 12 Conference and he’s the largest reason why and and I don’t think he’ll win it necessarily
But I think he might be the most important player in the Pack 12 that’s not what you’re here to learn about as my college basketball takes but what you do want to learn from me is why Jaylen Tyson will be a great fit for the Jazz
In the end of the first round well he’s scoring well he’s a plus ath athlete who in years previously was relegate to being that three and D athlete who takes on big-time defensive assignments runs the floor and shoots open threes in that role he shot 41% from three meaning he’s
Got the capacity to shoot very well from three both in a supplementary role and in a starring role 41% and 38% shoots it well on open shots he shoots it well with the ball in his hands and he’s developed more of a handle and feel for
The game as he’s the best passor on Cal leading them in assist as well and he’s shown a a proclivity to get out and transition and finish well and his first two years both at Texas and Texas Tech um the Big 12 is also the most athletic
Uh league in the country and he was considered one of the best athletes in that in that conference and and probably in the country and now he’s refined his game to being more of an onb player who sees the floor creates for himself and others and as a primary focus of the
Defenses he’s only become more efficient as a scorer that that to me really bodess well when you can play both as a role player and as a star and I mentioned that at the beginning sometimes players have a sometimes teams have a different philosophy of oh we
Want this player to play the same role they played in college well he could do that as a wing and or maybe he can he’s shown the chops for handling more of an on ball guy he’s projected not very high and I think a lot of it has to do with
Age but he’s 21 years old the NBA is having more and more players um provide early impacts being more important because there is a salary cap that’s making the depth be more important you can’t just get these minimum contract guys because you have to pay so much money to keep your stars
Happy so if you can get guys on low contracts early in their career ready to contribute meaning that oftentimes it is older players who do that better uh coming into the draft I think that’s going to be more in Vogue like think of Christian Brown for the Nuggets uh that
That’s one that’s recently proved uh paid dividends and he likely will again this this playoff Run for the Denver Nuggets uh Jaylen Tyson would be one of my preferences the other one that I would really highlight is Baylor shyman who I believe he’s in the upper uper
Echelon of Shooters in the entire draft class despite shooting 37% Tyson shoots 38% shyan’s a far better basketball shooter uh he he may not be the athlete Jaylen Tyson is but shyan in the Big East which is a good basketball league is averaging 19 points nine rebounds
Four assists 46 from the the field 37 from three and 84 from the free throw line he’s a great rebounder not only for his position but especially for his position a great passer who played point guard at South Dakota state for three years before transferring to kraton transferring up and being equally as
Effective on an Elite 8 team last year and a team right now that projects to be a four seed in kraton and he’s become a small forward out of playing point guard meaning he can pass the ball he can space he rebounds he shoots uh and I’m
Really high on Baylor shyan neither of these two players are getting too much a claim nationally but I would take both in the first round confidently and if either are there for the Jazz those would be some of my preferences obviously maybe the board Falls differently and I will update you guys
On how I perceive the the draft as it gets closer I would also be really intrigued by Jared McCain of Duke who’s blossomed as a as a two guard late in the season as a freshman really scoring well he just went seven of eight from three in his last game against Florida
State and then Devin Carter of providence is an Uber productive defensive stopper who’s become a go-to guy for Providence and his maybe single-handedly going to pull them into the tournament after a couple tough injuries for the Friars he’s someone that you would have liken to Javon
Carter but or or a maybe a Derek white defensively oriented guy who’s becoming better on offense and I think that’s that’s a player that the Jazz could use despite being not enormous in nature uh Devin Carter there’s a couple high-profile guys that fell down um due to lack of productivity but you know
Those type of players like Payton Watson number 30 pick didn’t score well at UCLA uh but he has those athletic traits you can’t teach a one that is in a similar vein to that is Justin Edwards of Kentucky he’s a lefty who is not really figured in to the Kentucky lineup as
Easily as some of the other freshmen and the transfers that Kentucky has had uh but he was one of the top three recruits in the country this past year is a six7 wing who has long arms good good nose for the basketball and just as a inefficient shooter and one other player
To mention is a upand cominging Frenchman named Melvin ainna who uh has a very good shot early he’s 19 years old he’s 6 foot eight and he’s shooting the ball well 36% from three and over 80% from the free throw line so those are some guys I would look at for the late
Round for the Jazz and of course I mentioned earlier in this episode for those who listen through the entire thing the players I would look at early in this draft should the Jazz have a top 10 pick now that the Jazz have picks um I think it becomes important to evaluate
That as the Jazz try to comprise their core for the future konay George Walker Kessler Taylor Hendricks all those guys factor in in the immediate future and the long term these are the guys that could continue to help and be their teammates down the road so thanks for
Tuning in to Lockton Jazz with your next listen check out lockon NBA where you hear the latest stories for all of these teams around the NBA what teams are are poised to make big runs and just lovers of basketball will all enjoy it all the same and also just a reminder I
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Before David lock gets back from a much earned vacation on the allstar break I will be back with you more thank you for listening to lockon Jazz
Leif Thulin analyzes where the Utah Jazz sit post All Star Break after having lost 4 straight games following the NBA Trade Deadline where the Jazz dealt 3 rotational players. Leif discusses why it has had a negative impact on the team in terms of wins vs losses but how this in the immediate and long term future of the Jazz has ramifications. One ramification of the trades is the NBA Draft and the picks the Jazz acquired in various deals. Leif is an NBA Draft analyst and pinpoints a few players to watch as potential fits for the Utah Jazz at their different draft spots.
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19 Comments
Who would you draft if you’re the Jazz?
Bro it’s 3am
Reed would be nice but unless we're moving Keyonte to the 2 – I miss the point.
Stephon Castle could work – I'm wondering whether we could take a punt at Ja'Kobe Walters? – later pick possibly Kevin McCullar?
Welcome back Leif
Thoughts on Bobi Klintmann, Jared McCain and Jones from Iowa state?
Jazz tanking this season really doesn’t make sense unless they really like someone in this draft and are considering trading up.
Great to have you back Leif. So it's my understanding that DA & JZ think that the Future of the NBA is that every player will be 6'6 or above. Drafting Foreign players can be stashed, Watch for that…
Hate the moves made at Deadline. I feel like this team needed to experience the Playoffs. However, "Trust the Process ", right? Next year's Draft class should be the Target. Especially the top 3. Not sure we are headed that way without trading Lauri. So look for that…
I hope the jazz get Stephon castle him and keyonte would make an elite backcourt
What expect from jazz rest of the season? Not many wins, maybe they win some very worst teams but nothing more. I hate tanking and making team worse in short term and gambling long term. Gambling is that jazz made huge mistake unless some of they picks will be superstar. Its hard to belive when most jazz picks are not top 3 picks, if any.
Yes Hardy is good, but roster is horrible. I belive that jazz will trade Lauri in the summer. I mean, there is not future success anytime soon coming. At least this decade they dont going anywhere near to be contender. They could get good point guard by trading some of they picks, but what happening last 2 trade deadline. Who is willing to come in utah? Not anybody really good. So all jazz can get by trading is medicore players at best.
I dont belive a second that this road what Ainge took lead success. I hope im wrong but so far i dont see anything good coming. Jazz best asset is Hardy who is very, very good coach. Then jazz haveLauri, Sexton and Kessler. And then, garbage roster and late 1st round picks. How in earth someone think this can be route to success?
We are in wait and see mode we should get rid of are best players and suck for better draft picks hopefully the picks get better at the end
Well, this is a fun Tuesday morning surprise! Hi Leif!
So people are fine with playing keyonte for the first 20 games causing so many losses when theres a 23 year old thats better than im on the roster, but cry because we traded a 32 yr old historically bad defender to get taylor minutes. Delusion at its finest
Draft buzelis and dont play him at all in year one. Have him eating 15000 calories a day with two a day lifts. All year. Hes like the offensive minded version of Franz Wagner if you can expedite his weight gain.
Great to see you Leif! Enjoyed the show today! Good insights.
I think the consensus everywhere I look is that the Jazz traded away the heart and soul of the team, Kelly Olynyk for nothing….With no disrespect, I think Ainge is about numbers, but he has no clue about passion, drive and all the intangibles. While maybe this move looked good after he tapped it out on his calculator, these are people with emotions, connections, and personalities…All the human qualities are excluded, the young team needed Olynyk to get them through the wilderness of being new to the NBA and it shows. The value of Olynyk and even the tough as nails Fontechio, are immeasurable and incalcuable, these are the areas that Ainge overlooked and made a massive blunder. You had the second smartest Jazz player in the history of the organization in Olynyk, Stockton being the first, and you traded him away for zilch nothing. Smith needs to stop focusing on the NHL and start thinking about the pro team he has, the Utah Jazz.
We are already forgetting the remaining 30 games and focusing on the draft……Jazz epitomize the NBA, after their embarassing NBA All-Star game of no hustle, drive or even good basketball, the Jazz are showing the fans they could care less if you get a good product this year. Time to boycott the Jazz and the NBA.
I love hearing about the potential draft picks now that we traded 3 out our rotation guys and are likely to be in the top 10, plus have Cleveland’s 1st round pick, the Clippers 1st rounder and Detroits 2nd rounder likely 31 to 33.
Dillon Jones Weber State baby!!