Utah Jazz rank ’18-19: Glue guy Thabo Sefolosha is No. 9

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 02: CJ Miles (0) of the Toronto Raptors attempts to drive past Thabo Sefolosha (22) of the Utah Jazz during a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 2, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 02: CJ Miles (0) of the Toronto Raptors attempts to drive past Thabo Sefolosha (22) of the Utah Jazz during a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 2, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Thabo Sefolosha will give the Utah Jazz great depth in the frontcourt if he can return to pre-injury form in 2018-19.

For the hot-stove contingent of Utah Jazz fans, the 2018 free agency period wasn’t exactly must-see TV. When all was said and done, the team essentially returned its full lineup from last season. The previous summer didn’t offer much to write home about, either. After Gordon Hayward flew the coop, the team’s biggest move was inking Thabo Sefolosha to a two-year deal.

That said, the 34-year-old actually turned out to be a great value pick-up for Utah. Before falling prey to a season-ending knee injury, Sefolosha was both an important voice in the huddle and a key contributor on the hardwood. As a result, he enters our 2018-19 Jazz rank countdown at No. 9.

If he can fully regain his pre-injury form, Sefolosha will be a major depth piece for the Jazz this season. Before he went down last season, he put up over eight points per game and knocked down a respectable 38 percent of his 3-pointers. All the while, he showed flashes of the elite defensive ability that has been his calling card over a decade-plus in the Association.

According to reports, he’s well on his way toward running it back again this season. For his part, Donovan Mitchell envisions him being even better for the team in ’18-19.

Said Mitchell, via The Salt Lake Tribune

"“He’s looking like he’s stronger than he was last year, he looks leaner, he’s shooting it better, having more confidence in it. And he’s just a glue guy. … We’re glad to have him back. I’m excited for him.”"

The rub to Sefolosha picking up where he left off last season comes in the form Jae Crowder, who joined the team at the trade deadline and made a big-time positive impact on the court. With Sefolosha on the mend, Crowder took over his role as the back-up four-man and the Jazz attack soared as a result.

When Crowder joined Mitchell, Ricky Rubio, Joe Ingles and Rudy Gobert on the court, the Jazz outscored opponents by nearly 30 points per 100 possessions. That number was No. 1 league-wide among five-man lineup combinations that played at least 190 minutes together.

As such, it’s hard to see Sefolosha getting his old spot back. It’s certainly not how things have played out during the preseason, with Crowder assuming the role of sixth man and entering the game in relief of Favors mid-way through first quarters.

Nevertheless, Sefolosha has been getting run throughout Utah’s exhibition slate and I would expect that to continue throughout the year. All things being equal, the fact that he’s been bumped down the line a bit likely has a lot more to do with the Jazz’s depth than Sefolosha’s own shortcomings.

There will be a bit of an adjustment period as he works himself back into game shape, but when all is said and done, Sefolosha remains a player who will make an impact on both ends of the floor. Even if it is in small doses.

He’ll continue to be that glue guy behind the scenes, too.

The 2018-19 Utah Jazz rank countdown so far —

20) Jairus Lyles
19) Trey Lewis
18) Isaac Haas
17) Naz Mitrou-Long
16) Tyler Cavanaugh
15) Tony Bradley
14) Georges Niang
13) Raul Neto
12) Ekpe Udoh
11) Alec Burks
10) Grayson Allen