Utah Jazz Draft Guide
The NBA Draft is just over a week away, and as such, I decided to take a look at some of the potential picks the Jazz could make with the 23rd overall selection. Each player profile is accompanied by a scouting report via The Ringer, an NBA comparison, as well as my own personal opinions on each player.
Admiral Schofield
PLUSES
Not to be superficial, but he plays like he looks: tough, intense, and musclebound.
Explosive finisher in space. He runs the floor hard in transition and will be a lob threat off cuts in the half court.
Good spot-up 3-point shooter with a compact form. He also is capable shooting 3s off one or two dribbles, though it’s a limited sample.
Capable post scorer who can use his big frame to bury defenders underneath the rim; he’s also a reliable passer, so perhaps he could develop as a post playmaking presence.
Good rebounder who chases balls out of his area and boxes out. His effort applies to defense, too: He hustles and gives his all in man-to-man defensive situations.
Effective defender against forwards thanks to his size and solid strength; he could someday be a highly versatile defender.
Let’s be honest here: Admiral Schofield is an all-time great name.
MINUSES
Takes a lot of midrange jumpers since he lacks the burst and the ballhandling ability to get all the way to the basket.
As a featured scorer for the Volunteers, he frequently stopped the ball upon catching it; in the NBA, those isolations will be a big no-no. He must get in the habit of keeping it moving.
Average lateral quickness limits his potential switching onto guards; he doesn’t swing his hips quickly when changing directions, which leads to his eating their dust.
With such a beefy frame, it’ll be naturally difficult for him to angle himself around screens.
Admiral Schofield is probably my favorite prospect for the Jazz in this draft. He reminds me a lot of Jae Crowder, just more athletic and consistent. Schofield has a reputation for being a great teammate and a player that coaches love. He works hard and plays even harder, which is exactly the kind of player Jazz fans love. He has shown the ability to knock down the three, but his sheer size and strength limit his speed with, and without, the ball.
NBA Comparison: Stanley Johnson
Chuma Okeke
PLUSES
Good 3-point shooter with relaxed, simple mechanics. He can also straight-line drive to the rim; eventually, he could become a pick-and-pop threat.
Instinctive cutter who’s a good finisher around the rim with enough touch to make circus finishes using either hand; however, his lack of explosiveness limits him against length or contact.
Good post scorer who could use his size to his advantage against switching defenses; if a double comes, he has the passing vision to locate open teammates.
Great passing instincts; he never seems panicked and delivers an accurate ball even when pressured. He’s a post playmaker and makes smart outlet passes in transition.
Hyperalert off-ball defender who makes sound rotations and creates deflections with his remarkable anticipation skills and swift hands.
Winning player who will dive on the floor for a loose ball, chase down rebounds, and run the floor, all of which should help him earn the trust of his coaches.
MINUSES
Slow shooting release is the only cause concern for his jump shot; he’s also a nonfactor shooting off the dribble from all ranges.
Lacks athleticism; he’s not that quick, and he’s a below-the-rim player. If he gets stronger and adds weight to better play at the 4, it’s critical that he ensures the bulk doesn’t slow him down.
Needs to tighten his handle and footwork so he’s called for fewer travels when attacking closeouts.
Stiff in guarding man-to-man when he doesn’t stay seated low in his stance; his technique must improve so he can trigger his theoretical versatility as a multipositional defender.
Tore his left ACL in March; he had previously suffered a bone bruise in the same knee in June 2017 during tryouts for the Under-19 USA Basketball team.
NBA Scouts would probably be higher on Okeke had he not suffered a torn ACL in the NCAA Tournament in March. Still, the Auburn Forward is still an NBA talent. Okeke is a player that does a lot of things well, but isn’t particularly exceptional at anything either. Okeke should be around at pick 23, but it’s up to the Jazz to decide if they can wait for him to fully recover from his ACL injury, and then develop into an NBA level player.
NBA Comparison: Robert Covington
Tyler Herro
PLUSES
Quick shooting release with NBA range; he’s capable of catching and shooting the ball at tough angles.
Herro’s upside shooting off the dribble is his most tantalizing skill. He’s comfortable with sidestep pull-ups, especially going to his left.
Natural feel for off-ball relocation to get open for spot-up jumpers or cuts to the basket; he’ll wear out defenders with his constant, deceptive movement.
Has potential as a crafty interior finisher; he has a soft floater and he’s adept at using his off hand on layups.
Intelligent passer who knows how to leverage his height to pass over the defense.
Runs hard in transition to the wings and corners for 3s.
Hustles on defense and crashes the boards. His physical profile should support more muscle, which would allow him to defend stronger NBA wings and forwards.
Works hard and models his game after Devin Booker, who had eerily similar strengths and weaknesses entering the NBA.
MINUSES
Struggled to shoot off of screens and handoffs at Kentucky; his form makes him look like an elite knockdown shooter, but results aren’t supportive.
Sluggish first step turning the corner on drives to the rim limits his shot-creation ability. Lacks explosiveness to regularly finish once he gets inside.
Doesn’t have the lateral quickness to effectively defend quicker players on switches; he got burned in Kentucky’s final game against Auburn.
Has the requisite length and effort to be an effective defender, but needs to develop more attention to detail.
Herro is an ideal draft candidate for Jazz fans, especially those who were hoping to get Kevin Huerter in 2018. Herro automatically fills an offensive need for the Jazz because of his ability to shoot the basketball and his NBA range. The biggest question surrounding the Kentucky product is if he will still be around when the Jazz are on the clock.
NBA Comparison: CJ Miles
Grant Williams
PLUSES
Crafty interior scorer who finishes with either hand and uses deceptive pump fakes to create space; loves to carve out space for his left-handed runner.
Excellent screener who can facilitate on the short roll or pop for 3s; can be a playmaking weapon on switches.
Tennessee runs its offense through him on the post; he loves absorbing contact, can finish over either shoulder, and throws accurate fastballs to cutters and shooters.
Improved spot-up 3-point shooter. He must extend his range, but his touch from the line and midrange is a positive indicator for his projected shooting ability.
A high-IQ defender who is always in the right position rotating as a help defender, and plays with strong fundamentals moving laterally.
Plays tough, physical individual defense. He closes out hard and shows active hands, plus he’s an instinctual rebounder who boxes out.
Hard-working, unselfish player. Lost weight and got better each season. He’ll take a charge or dive for a loose ball. Bonus: He does a good job of accentuating contact to draw fouls.
MINUSES
Reluctant to shoot 3s, passes up open looks, and dribbles into short midrange pull-ups. Does he lack confidence or is he aware of his limitations?
Lacks verticality, so scoring inside against NBA length will require an adjustment.
He doesn’t project as a shot creator because of his average first step and lack of shake as a ball handler.
Tweeners don’t exist in today’s NBA, but athleticism still matters: He might not have the mobility to be a top-shelf defender on switches against guards and quicker wings.
Grant Williams is one of my favorite potential prospects in this year's draft from a Jazz perspective. Williams is a prospect who should flourish within Quin Snyder’s system due to his ability to screen, finish around the rim and defend. On top of that, Williams has shown an ability to improve his three point shooting. If the Jazz waive Derrick Favors in order to pursue a free agent, such as D'Angelo Russell, Williams would be someone who could fill in at the four position on day one.
NBA Comparison: PJ Tucker
Carson Edwards
PLUSES
Proficient shooter with limitless range off the dribble. He uses an assortment of moves using his tight handle to generate space to launch from anywhere.
Good shooter off the catch who thrives using screens, and displays the intelligence to move without the ball in space.
He can change a game with his scoring ability, either fueling a break or generating something out of nothing in the half court; in college, he thrived despite intense defensive attention.
Short, but stocky: His at-rim finishing numbers aren’t good, but he’s able to get into the lane whenever he pleases thanks to his handle and strong frame.
MINUSES
Undersized guard who will be targeted on defense by opponents when he’s on the floor.
Subpar at-rim finisher who lacks explosiveness. Doesn’t project as a player who will draw a lot of fouls, either. He’d benefit from adding a floater to his game.
Tasked with scoring at Purdue, not passing. Still, his lack of progress as a playmaker is worrisome, as last season he still forced shots instead of distributing.
Tends to deliver an inaccurate ball when attempting difficult passes, and he tends to stick to basic first reads in the pick-and-roll anyway.
Edwards burst onto the scene in March with his performance in the NCAA Tournament. The only problem was the Purdue guard did not have a great regular season. Edwards has the ability to shoot the lights out when he gets into a rhythm, but his lack of size and ability to finish at the rim may limit his offensive game at the next level. And if the Jazz truly believe they have a shot at D’Angelo Russell, then adding another point guard is the last thing they want to do.
NBA Comparison: Shabazz Napier
Rui Hachimura
PLUSES
Tremendous physical tools with a thick frame, long arms, and fluid athleticism. He’s activated these traits with improved ballhandling moves going coast-to-coast after rebounds.
Potential mismatch scorer who can be used all over the court: He’s an effective post scorer, a powerful straight-line driver, a willing cutter, and an improving spot-up shooter.
Comfortable handling the ball and shooting off the dribble from the short midrange; at his rate of improvement, perhaps he’ll someday extend his range to 3.
Versatile close-range finisher who can score above the rim with touch using either hand. He’s a willing screener and could be useful in the pick-and-roll.
Has the tools to be a versatile defender with a sturdy frame, long arms, athleticism, a willingness to learn, and a proven track record of making improvements.
Hard worker on and off the floor who has gotten better each season. Hachimura didn’t start playing organized basketball until he was 14; he’s in the early stages of his development.
MINUSES
The game moves too fast for him on offense; he’s a poor decision-maker who’s slow to read the floor. Even when he does pass, he delivers the ball inaccurately.
Needs to be stronger with the ball; he powered through college players but savvier defenders knew to strip the ball because of his tendency to bring it down.
Reads the floor on defense at Windows 98 speeds; he’s a liability in the pick-and-roll, gets caught in no-man’s-land, and is late to rotate in help situations.
Needs to be more physical to improve his rebounding, which would help compensate for his defensive imitations.
Hachimura is a player that Jazz fans have had their eyes on for quite some time. Somewhat of a late bloomer in the basketball world, Hachimura relied heavily on his length and athleticism to be successful in the college game. While the Gonzaga product has improved over the past couple of seasons, he is probably going to be a player who spends a lot of time in the G League to begin his career.
NBA Comparison: Markieff Morris
Matisse Thybulle
PLUSES
Beast off-ball defender potential: He’s both athletic and smart. He closes out strong, alters shots, and recovers well after penetration.
Remarkable anticipation skills and reaction time allow him to jump passing lanes like he’s Deion Sanders.
Doesn’t take his athleticism for granted; constantly hustles, pursues loose balls, and hurries back in transition to stop the ball or contest a shot.
Projects as a switchable man-to-man defender with long arms and good fundamentals moving laterally and staying seated in his stance.
Despite his hyperactivity on defense, he rarely commits fouls, though he’ll need to break his freelancing habit in the NBA.
Above-average 3-point shooter with compact form, and a good free throw shooter with touch around the rim.
Smart player who passes well within the flow of the offense and avoids careless mistakes.
Ambidextrous below-the-rim interior finisher who can score well off cuts and closeouts.
MINUSES
Tough to evaluate his man-to-man defense since he last played it as an underclassman when Lorenzo Romar used a switching scheme that hemorrhaged points.
Weirdly a nonfactor on the defensive boards despite his athleticism and instincts.
Timid, deferential offensive player. It’s not necessarily a bad thing since he knows his role, but he’s yet to tap into his athleticism.
Needs to speed up his jump shot release, and too often flares out his elbow, which may be a cause of inconsistency.
Not someone who will create many at-rim chances for himself. He can make simple moves but hasn’t shown he can keep the ball on a string.
At-rim finishing is lacking but could improve if he develops athleticism leaping off one foot.
Thybulle appears to be a favorite amongst Jazz fans, particularly due to his athletism and defensive prowess. While those two things aren’t to be taken for granted, the Jazz have a bigger need to fill on the offensive side of the ball, rather than the defensive. And Thybulle’s lack of playmaking ability causes me to pump the breaks.
NBA Comparison: Tony Allen
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