The Utah Jazz have rounded out their 2019-20 roster with a group of guys that are largely unknowns. But each one possesses key traits that could lead to them becoming the team’s next diamond in the rough.
The Utah Jazz have finally built a culture and basketball situation that is enticing to free agents. The fact that they were able to add a prolific player in Bojan Bogdanovic in free agency along with productive veteran Jeff Green and promising young players Ed Davis and Emmanuel Mudiay just goes to show that talented NBA guys are interested in suiting up for the exceptional organization that exists in Utah.
One of the leading reasons why the Jazz have become such a notable team despite the small market obstacles they face is that they’ve built a reputation as one of the league’s best at developing players. It’s the principal reason why Mudiay was willing to come play in SLC on a minimum contract. It’s why they’ve been able to become such a force largely organically as they’ve helped players improve into the studs they are today.
Two such players that applies to are a pair of guys who are now mainstays in the Jazz rotation – Joe Ingles and Royce O’Neale. Both went undrafted and had a long and tenuous journey into the NBA. But when the Jazz gave each a chance and worked hard to develop them, they both flourished.
This upcoming season, the Utah Jazz are as deep as they’ve been in several years thanks to an incredible existing core and a solid offseason that resulted in the signings of the aforementioned guys. Even so, it’s entirely possible that among the rest of Utah’s signings, there could very well be another diamond in the rough waiting for his chance to be discovered and an opportunity to flourish.
As such, let’s take a look at each one and what they might be able to bring to the Jazz as they continue to develop under a phenomenal program in Utah.