Utah Jazz: Dejounte Murray Steals the Spotlight

At the Utah Jazz’ most recent workout session in preparation for the 2016 NBA Draft, Washington guard and potential lottery pick Dejounte Murray stole the spotlight from local prospects.

Although the Utah Jazz have been holding pre-draft workouts for several weeks now, few of the premiere collegiate prospects have made their way to the team’s practice facility as of yet. In that regard, the workout sessions had a different feel on Wednesday.

Participating in a solo audition for Jazz brass, potential lottery pick Dejounte Murray was among the five potential draftees in town for the team’s mid-week round of pre-draft workouts. His presence at the Zions Bank Basketball Center stole the spotlight from popular local prospects who were also in the building.

This wasn’t simply a byproduct of Murray’s status as, arguably, the best prospect to work out for the Jazz to date, however. According to reports, the lengthy combo guard from Washington also stole the show with an impressive workout.

Jazz VP of Player Personnel Walt Perrin, who typically looks indifferent at best to answering post-workout media queries and famously evaluates workouts using phrases like “OK” or “Not the best or worst; kind of in the middle,” was very complimentary of Murray’s performance.

“He looked good today,” said the team’s workout guru. “Real good. He shot the ball better than I expected.”

You hear that? REAL good; we may have a potential superstar on our hands.

Draft experts are all over the map in terms of projecting just where Murray will be taken–he’s listed as a late-lottery selection by some, while others place him solidly in the second round.

Murray averaged 16 points, six rebounds, four assists and nearly two steals per contest as a freshman for the Huskies. Before college, he played prep ball for Rainier Beach High School in the Seattle area, the same school that produced Los Angeles Clippers star and reigning Sixth Man Award winner Jamal Crawford.

Like Crawford, he has both the explosiveness off the dribble to play the point guard and, at six-foot-five with a Crawford-esque six-foot-ten wingspan, the size to play at the two spot. Whether or not he can shoot like Crawford remains to be seen; he connected during his workout with the Jazz, but made just 29 percent of his three-pointers with Washington.

In addition to seeing Murray, the Jazz got a closer look at University of Utah point man Brandon Taylor, as well as BYU sharpshooter Chase Fischer–both local products looking to make names for themselves.

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The diminutive Taylor averaged 9.5 points, just over three assists and one steal per contest in his four years with the Runnin’ Utes. He also connected on 39 percent of his three-pointers during his college career and was a key component to two NCAA tournament runs under coach Larry Krystkowiak.

Fischer, meanwhile, did his best Jimmer Fredette impression for the Cougars last season. He led his team by averaging 18 points and also made 37 percent of his eight three-point attempts per game.

Taylor and Fischer were joined by Max Hooper from Oakland and Michigan wing Caris LeVert, who was in a walking boot and unable to work out, but interviewed with the team.

The Jazz own pick No. 12 of the first round and No. 42, No. 52 and No. 60 of the second round in this month’s NBA Draft.