The Utah Jazz and the rest of the Association’s teams will get a closer look at a litany of prospects during this year’s NBA Draft Combine, beginning Wednesday.
Although the Utah Jazz were eliminated from the playoffs by the Houston Rockets, the work continues for the team’s decision-makers. Jazz basketball never stops, and the team has shifted its focus to next month’s NBA Draft, where GM Dennis Lindsey will look to find yet another diamond in the rough.
Lindsey has struck gold in the draft before; another major score could be a boon for his squad in its evolution toward contender status.
The NBA Draft Combine, beginning Wednesday and running through Sunday, is a key step in that process. The combine offers teams an opportunity to get to know several NBA prospects better through drills, live action and player interviews.
It’s an important event, and the Jazz — who own pick No. 21 in Round 1, as well as the 52nd overall pick in Round 2 — will be doing some serious scouting.
Here’s a look at some of the prospects who are attending the combine that could potentially be fits for the Jazz.
Zhaire Smith (Texas Tech, Freshman)
Texas Tech freshman Zhaire Smith is someone who could open some eyes at the Draft Combine. His athleticism will be on full display, and he has a chance to raise some eyebrows.
His combination of explosiveness, defense and energy will be very appealing, and he is someone who would fit right in on the Jazz bench. Plus, he’s still only 18 years old. He has plenty of time to grow and evolve, and with the Jazz’s player development, he could be really good.
Donte DiVincenzo (Villanova, RS Sophomore)
Man, Donte DiVincenzo really helped his draft stock during the 2018 NCAA Tournament. While he was viewed as a potential NBA prospect before then, his stock blew up after going for 31 points in the championship game against Michigan.
DiVincenzo is another big-time athlete, and has already been brought in for a pre-draft workout with the Jazz. He can still opt to return to Villanova, but a first-round guarantee could sway him in the direction of the NBA. He’d potentially give Utah an explosive scoring option off the bench.
Troy Brown Jr (Oregon, Freshman)
Troy Brown Jr is one of the more intriguing prospects in this year’s draft. He has tremendous size and versatility. He’s 6-foot-7 and can play positions 1-3. Meanwhile, his length helps him on the defensive end. He can also see over the defense and make reads.
There are questions about what his role will be at the next level, but this kid has a chance to develop into a really good player. His jumpshot is still a little shaky, and he isn’t a big-time athlete, but he makes up for it with his defense and versatility.
Khyri Thomas (Creighton, Junior)
One of the more underrated prospects in this year’s draft would be Creighton’s Khyri Thomas. His promising two-way potential has most projecting him to be a first-round pick. Thomas is a 6-foot-3 combo guard that plays very good defense. He improved his scoring average each year at Creighton, and shot 41 percent from deep this season.
He’s more than just a 3-and-D guy, and he has a chance to show that at the Draft Combine.
Keita Bates-Diop (Ohio State, Junior)
Bates-Diop is one of my personal favorites in this year’s class. He’s another versatile player than can stretch the floor and lock up on the defensive end. He improved his scoring averaged by just over 10 points during his final season with the Buckeyes.
The Draft Combine will be big for him, as he looks to solidify himself as a first-round pick.
Others
Chandler Hutchison (Boise State), De’Anthony Melton (USC), Jontay Porter (Missouri), Tony Carr (Penn State), and Jerome Robinson (Boston College) are others that could be available when the Jazz are picking in the first round.
Jevon Carter (West Virginia, Senior)
Jevon Carter is a hard-nosed, defensive-minded guard who gave his blood, sweat and tears to West Virginia University over the past four years. Utah has Ricky Rubio under contract, but both Dante Exum and Raul Neto will be hitting free agency this summer.
Carter could be a safe pick in the second round, and would be a great fit in the Jazz system with his defensive and shooting abilities.
Tyus Battle (Syracuse, Sophomore)
Tyus Battle is a guy that can play either guard position, and is coming off a season where he averaged 19.2 points per game for the Orange. He isn’t very efficient, but he can put the ball in the basket.
He will need to tighten up his ball-handling at the next level, and prove he can guard man-to-man.
Alize Johnson (Missouri State, Senior)
Alize Johnson is a do-it-all type of big man. He is capable of stretching the floor and knocking down the 3-point shot. He’s great at grabbing rebounds, running in transition and playmaking. He has been a bit of an unknown to many over the years, but he has a chance to show out at the Draft Combine and improve his draft stock.
His playmaking ability would be attractive to the Jazz, and he could be an option with that second-round pick.
Others
Caleb Martin (Nevada), George King (Colorado), and Devon Hall (Virginia) are three other guys to watch at the Draft Combine. Hall has worked out for the Jazz, while King and Martin have improved their draft stocks over the past month.
Billy Preston (Kansas/Bosnia)
Now we are getting into some names that are tough to project. Billy Preston, for example, was originally committed to play at Kansas, but didn’t play a single second for the Jayhawks this season. Instead, he spent the year waiting to be cleared by the NCAA while his eligibility was in question.
He ended up going to play in Bosnia, where he suited up in three games before coming back to the United States after dealing with some shoulder pain. He’ll get a chance to show off at the Draft Combine, and remind everyone why he was a five-star recruit coming out of high school.
Brian Bowen II (South Carolina)
Brian Bowen II had a workout with the Jazz recently, and he will now look to impress scouts at the Draft Combine. Bowen originally committed to Louisville coming out of high school, but ended up at South Carolina after an FBI investigation rocked college basketball.
Ultimately, he didn’t play a single game for South Carolina, which makes him a bit of a mystery. He was another five-star recruit in high school, so he obviously has some game.
Anfernee Simons (IMG Academy)
Of these three players, Simons seems to have the highest draft stock. Simons, like Bowen, was originally committed to Louisville coming out of high school. He backed out of that commitment once the news of the FBI investigation came out, and since he was a post-graduate at IMG Academy, he was eligible for the NBA Draft.
He’s a shifty combo guard that can really shoot, and he will look to turn heads at the Draft Combine.