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

By Jared Woodcox

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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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 12: Stanton Kidd #43 of Utah Jazz goes to the basket against the Orlando Magic during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 12, 2018 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 12: Stanton Kidd #43 of Utah Jazz goes to the basket against the Orlando Magic during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 12, 2018 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Stanton Kidd

The final prospective diamond in the rough is Utah’s latest signing Stanton Kidd. Kidd has been around the Jazz for a couple years as he played for the Jazz Summer League team a season ago and put up solid numbers. He struggled to find his shot somewhat in this summer’s edition, but he still made some timely buckets and great plays for his squad.

Where Kidd really stands out as a potentially fitting target for the Jazz is on defense where his length and athleticism figure to give him a stark advantage guarding the perimeter. He’s definitely a competitor who should fit nicely with Utah’s DNA and could provide yet another stretch option for them.

Although Kidd is about five years removed from college play, his performance in his lone season at Colorado State is still noteworthy. He notched just over 11 points per game while, most impressively, knocking down over 40 percent of his three-point shots and converting on 46.4 percent of his shots overall.

At 27 years old, he’s a bit older than you’d expect out of a typical young, high-potential prospect. But as the Jazz have shown with Joe Ingles, who also joined the Jazz at 27, it is possible to teach an old dog new tricks, and Kidd most certainly still could develop and blossom in the Jazz’s renowned program.

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As is the case with all these players, Kidd faces an uphill battle especially on a loaded team with a deep bench. Not only that, but he still has to battle Howard for a spot on the final roster, which will be a challenge in and of itself. Nevertheless, just like all the players on this list, Kidd possesses some critical traits and unique skills that certainly make him diamond in the rough material.

And considering how well the Jazz have done with identifying and developing such players, he should be thrilled by the opportunity that lies ahead of him.

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