Utah Jazz: Shooting Highlighted in Pre-Draft Workouts

During their most recent workouts in preparation for the 2016 NBA Draft, the Utah Jazz got a closer look at some under-the-radar shooters.

If you asked 10 Utah Jazz fans to give you a list of things the team needs to get to the next level in the Western Conference, I’d wager that a solid seven or eight of them would mention shooting. Since the departure of Kyle Korver in 2010, the team has lacked a legitimate, knockdown shooting threat to open up the offense.

The Jazz are getting better at spacing the floor, hitting over 35 percent from deep and making more than eight three-pointers per game during the 2015-16 season, putting them in the middle of the pack league-wide. However, shooting continues to be at a premium for Jazz coach Quin Snyder and his crew.

So, while the group of six potential draftees that worked out for the Jazz on Wednesday may not have included names to set the basketball world ablaze, it did include prospects who have shown an ability to put the ball into the basket.

Michigan State’s Bryn Forbes, a four-year player who Jazz VP of player personnel Walt Perrin compared to former Jazzman/current Warriors gunner Ian Clark, showed his touch in Wednesday’s workout and also impressed with other aspects of his game.

Perrin on Forbes’ performance in front of Jazz brass–

"“He really competed, fought through fatigue, like I expected he would coming from Michigan State. He shot the ball like we know he can shoot it. He shot extremely well. He talked, tried to play defense–he had a good workout.”"

In 138 college games, split between Cleveland State and Michigan State, Forbes made nearly 44 percent of his three-point attempts. Forbes was especially strong during his senior year with the Spartans; he connected on better than 48 percent of his 6.7 three-point attempts per game last season.

Like Clark, he’s undersized for a two-guard, checking in at six-foot-three and right around 190 pounds. He’s not generating a lot of buzz as a potential draft pick, but he could be a player who earns an NBA roster spot during summer league, in the D-League or while playing abroad.

The same could be said for Max Landis–not the famous screenwriter who makes cool YouTube videos about Superman, but a six-foot-two guard from IPFW who also worked out for the team. Landis took nearly nine three-point shots per game last year and made 45 percent of them.

Louisiana-Lafayette’s Shawn Long also showed potential as a shooter during his collegiate career, albeit from a different end of the spectrum. The center is trying to make it as a stretch big in the professional ranks.

Although he struggled from distance last season, the 2016 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year hit 34 percent of his career threes.

Of the six prospects to workout for the Jazz on Wednesday, though, the headliner was probably New Mexico State sophomore Pascal Siakam. The 6-foot-10 forward currently hits the DraftExpress Top 100 at No. 52; some mock drafts even have him listed as a late first round selection.

Siakam, who had a strong performance at the NBA Draft Combine, was tied for the most doubles-doubles in the nation last year with 27. He averaged 20 points, nearly 12 rebounds, 2.2 blocked shots and one steal per game for the Aggies last season, garnering WAC Player of the Year honors.

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According to The Salt Lake Tribune’s Tony Jones, Siakam has the look of a second-round steal, and may have been the best player in Wednesday’s workouts.

Also attending the mid-week workouts were Trevor Cooney from Syracuse and Georgia guard Kenny Gaines. The Utah Jazz currently own four selections in the 2106 NBA Draft.