Utah Jazz: Top six options with No. 21 pick in the draft

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#6 – Kevin Huerter

A recent report from Sports Illustrated made mention of Kevin Huerter possibly receiving a promise from the Utah Jazz that they would select him in the first round if he were available. This felt improbable at the time given Utah’s track record for such things, and it was later reported to be unsubstantiated.

That doesn’t change the fact that Huerter would be an intriguing option and a potentially stellar fit. He’s an elite shooter with the potential to turn into a spectacular shot-creator and finisher. He shot 50.3 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from deep in his final year at Maryland and proved that he was versatile enough to score in a number of ways.

He’s drawn comparisons to Klay Thompson. If that’s his ceiling, then he absolutely merits a close look. Thompson is obviously known as a staunch defender as well, and Huerter certainly has that potential. At six-foot seven, he’s a guard who has the ability to switch onto multiple positions. Between that and his shooting, he could be exactly the mold of player the Jazz are looking for.

Huerter impressed at the combine with his athleticism and shot-making, leaving little doubt that he would merit a first-round pick. He’ll certainly need to make some major strides to prove he can carry over his scoring to compete against guys at the highest level, but there’s a lot to like about him as a Jazz prospect.