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Will the Utah Jazz produce another diamond in the rough in 2019-20?

ATHENS, GREECE - APRIL 05: Nigel Williams-Goss, #3 of Olympiacos Piraeus competes with Muhammed Baygul, #5 of Darussafaka Tekfen Istanbul during the 2018/2019 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 30 game between Olympiacos Piraeus and Darussafaka Tekfen Istanbul at Peace and Friendship Stadium on April 5, 2019 in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Panagiotis Moschandreou/EB via Getty Images)
ATHENS, GREECE - APRIL 05: Nigel Williams-Goss, #3 of Olympiacos Piraeus competes with Muhammed Baygul, #5 of Darussafaka Tekfen Istanbul during the 2018/2019 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 30 game between Olympiacos Piraeus and Darussafaka Tekfen Istanbul at Peace and Friendship Stadium on April 5, 2019 in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Panagiotis Moschandreou/EB via Getty Images)
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Levallois Metropolitans’ shooting guard, Slovenia’s Klemen Prepelic (L) works around Limoges’ forward William Howard during the Pro A basketball match Levallois vs Limoges, on October 7, 2017 at the Marcel-Cerdan stadium in Levallois-Perret. / AFP PHOTO / THOMAS SAMSON (Photo credit should read THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/Getty Images)
Levallois Metropolitans’ shooting guard, Slovenia’s Klemen Prepelic (L) works around Limoges’ forward William Howard during the Pro A basketball match Levallois vs Limoges, on October 7, 2017 at the Marcel-Cerdan stadium in Levallois-Perret. / AFP PHOTO / THOMAS SAMSON (Photo credit should read THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/Getty Images)

William Howard

Perhaps the most unforeseen Utah Jazz signing this summer was William Howard who has been playing overseas with CSP Limoges in France. Howard’s contract isn’t guaranteed and he’ll likely be fighting with the latest Jazz signing, another diamond the rough candidate Stanton Kidd, for Utah’s 15th and final roster spot.

Bringing in Howard reminds me a lot of when the Jazz took a flier on Royce O’Neale and gave him a chance to compete for a roster spot. At the time, many Jazz fans (myself included) hoped that local standout Joel Bolomboy who played his college ball at Weber State would be the one to lock down the final spot. Instead, O’Neale was impressive and ultimately became the one the Jazz selected. Knowing what we know now, it was easily the correct decision and one that is already paying huge dividends.

Saying that Howard can become the next O’Neale is probably applying undue pressure. After all, he has yet to even officially make the team. However, ignoring the fact that he could possibly follow in O’Neale’s footsteps is equally irresponsible. The Jazz have an eye for talent, no matter where it resides, and they could have very well found a good one in Howard.

Howard has improved significantly as a shooter, and at six-foot-eight, 205 pounds, he has the makings of being a potentially dynamic stretch-four on the wing. He has the length to defend opposing fours and if his shooting continues to improve, he could very well become a great piece on both ends.

For now, I’d see him as well behind Georges Niang, who has made significant strides and is expected to continue to do so, in the rotation. But if Howard can force his way onto the squad with defensive prowess, he may very well be able to fight his way onto the roster to fill an important backup role just like Georges has.

He’ll have his work cut out for him to even make the team at all. But the fact that he was hand-picked out of Europe in this fashion is a good sign that Jazz brass is already high on him, which should give him a great shot.

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