The J-Notes
Fansided

Three reasons the Utah Jazz won the Donovan Mitchell trade

By Jonah Kubicek

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 12: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz battles for a rebound with Lauri Markkanen #24 and Lamar Stevens #8 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half of their game January 12, 2022 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 12: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz battles for a rebound with Lauri Markkanen #24 and Lamar Stevens #8 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half of their game January 12, 2022 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – APRIL 04: Ochai Agbaji #30 of the Kansas Jayhawks cuts down the net after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 72-69 during the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament National Championship at Caesars Superdome on April 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – APRIL 04: Ochai Agbaji #30 of the Kansas Jayhawks cuts down the net after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 72-69 during the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament National Championship at Caesars Superdome on April 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Ochai Agbaji can be the real deal

Yes, it’s true, the Jazz wanted a whopping six picks from the New York Knicks. Instead, they got three unprotected firsts from Cleveland that will presumably be well outside the draft lottery. They did manage to snag 14th overall pick Ochai Agbaji, however.

In his senior year at Kansas, he led them to an NCAA title with 19 points and five rebounds on average. He also shot 40% from deep. His defense was solid, and he finished his college career as the Big 12 Player of the Year, the Tournament MOP, and a consensus All-American. If you ask me, he was a steal at 14 and the Cavs should not have let him go.

Like any rookie, he will have a bit of a learning curve as he transitions to the NBA, but his Summer League performance suggests he is as ready as a player can be to make the leap.

In four Summer League games, he averaged 15 points, 4.75 rebounds, over one steal, and shot 37% from the deeper NBA three-point line.

Will he be in front of Clarkson or Sexton on the depth chart? Nope. In fact, he may even be behind Malik Beasley and Jared Butler, but by 2024, he will be a solid starting guard on an absolutely loaded team. The Jazz stole Walker Kessler from the Wolves, and they did it again with Agbaji.

Home/Jazz News