The Utah Jazz are focused on bringing an NBA championship to Salt Lake City. Developing young players is not currently a priority. Sometimes, players find a way to develop anyway. In 2021-22, that has very much been the case with Udoka Azubuike.
At 7’0 and 270 pounds with an elite vertical leap, Azubuike has some of the most unique physical qualities in the NBA. If Azubuike wants to dunk, nobody can really stop him. How long will he throw it down for the Utah Jazz?
With his recent performances, Jazz fans may hope the answer is “for a long time”.
Azubuike made the most of opportunities with the Utah Jazz
As the Jazz found themselves ravished by injuries, opportunities for role players like Azubuike to step into the limelight emerged. Nobody could say he didn’t make the most of them.
Over his past 6 games, the big man is averaging 9.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in just 20.3 minutes per contest. There’s an outlier in that sample: in his last game, with both Rudy Gobert and Hassan Whiteside having returned, Azubuike saw just 8 minutes of action.
We included that game because he still managed to score 10 points. Azubuike’s effectiveness as a pick-and-roll finisher may be as strong as any other Jazzman’s. He went 4/4 from the field in that brief stint.
Remove the outlier, and he averaged 9.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 22.8 minutes per game in the previous 5 contests. On the season, Azubuike is averaging 15 points, 12.8 rebounds and 2.25 blocks per 75 possessions.
When he’s on the floor, he’s continuously impressive. He’s just seldom on the floor, whether by virtue of fatigue or his place in the rotation. Assuming he could handle it, does he deserve a more significant role?
Can the Utah Jazz afford to give him one?
Does Azubuike fit the timeline for the Utah Jazz?
It’s not hard to envision a path forward for the Jazz and Azubuike to either stay together or split.
On the one hand, the native Nigerian is a solid fit in Quin Snyder’s offense. His attack relies on four-out spacing with a lob threat in the middle. Azubuike more than qualifies.
As it stands, he’s the third string center on a team featuring Rudy Gobert and Hassan Whiteside in the middle. As effective as the latter has been in 2021-22, the Jazz could opt to let him walk. That way, the front office could allocate those resources towards (you guessed it) a 3-and-D wing, allowing Azubuike to slot into Whiteside’s place.
There’s also a more radical path forward. If the Jazz fall short in this year’s playoffs, and convince Donovan Mitchell to stay put, Rudy Gobert could be a strong trade candidate this summer. In that scenario, there could be room for Azubuike to start next season.
On the other hand, if the Jazz advance to the Conference Finals or further this season, there will likely be a desire to run a similar group back. In that event, Azubuike may be the odd man out.
Could the Utah Jazz trade Azubuike?
If that’s the case, it’s hard not to wonder if Azubuike’s performance this season could have increased his trade value around the league. The Jazz could attach his modest contract to one of their larger ones to acquire a quality player on a rebuilding team.
Surely, he’d have suitors. The Houston Rockets have the worst defense in the National Basketball Association. Azubuike’s rim protection could be useful. The Detroit Pistons may need a better pick-and-roll finisher to pair with Cade Cunningham if they’re not enamored with Marvin Bagley III. The Oklahoma City Thunder are essentially interested in any player under 25.
Whatever Azubuike’s future holds, it looks brighter after 2021-22.
It’s also probably not a top priority for the Utah Jazz. It may, however, become a larger one, depending on how the 2021-22 season concludes for this squad.