The J-Notes
Fansided

Ranking the 9 players Utah traded for this summer

By Jonah Kubicek

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against Royce O'Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz during the third quarter at Crypto.com Arena on January 17, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against Royce O'Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz during the third quarter at Crypto.com Arena on January 17, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 23: NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) and Ochai Agbaji pose for photos after Agbaji was drafted with the 14th overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2022 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2022 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 23: NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) and Ochai Agbaji pose for photos after Agbaji was drafted with the 14th overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2022 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2022 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

#3: Ochai Agbaji

Not only is Agbaji the third-best player Utah traded for, but he is also Utah’s best rookie entering the season. The 14th overall pick led the Kansas Jayhawks to a March Madness victory, shooting 40% from three to score 18.8 points per game. His resumé precedes him:

Big 12 Player of the Year, All-Big 12 Tournament, NCAA Tournament MOP, NCAA All-Tournament, All-American, All-Big 12, and Big 12 Tournament MVP

If the Jazz can add a star in the 2023 NBA Draft, Agbaji, Sexton, Kessler, and Vanderbilt could be an excellent supporting cast that could be immediate contenders. Agbaji spent four years at Kansas, so he is NBA-ready now.

When most players hit the league, there is a bit of a learning curve. That won’t be the case for Ochai, as he shot 37% from the deeper NBA three-point line in the Summer League, and put up comparable numbers to his college ones.

As the primary ball handler in college and in Vegas, he is a bit more turnover prone than one would like, but he will get to share the ball with Sexton, Conley, and Clarkson, so hopefully, some attention is taken away from him. If turning the ball over is his only flaw, that shouldn’t be a big deal, as the top five turnover leaders last year were Doncic, Harden, Young, Jokic, and Westbrook, all of whom will be considered for the Hall of Fame when it’s all said and done.

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