The J-Notes
Fansided

Ranking the Utah Jazz’s FIBA 5 after the first two rounds of the tournament

By Chad Porto

US's Walker Kessler (2L) dunks the ball during the FIBA Basketball World Cup quarter-final match between US and Italy in Manila on September 5, 2023. (Photo by Ezra Acayan / POOL / AFP) (Photo by EZRA ACAYAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
US's Walker Kessler (2L) dunks the ball during the FIBA Basketball World Cup quarter-final match between US and Italy in Manila on September 5, 2023. (Photo by Ezra Acayan / POOL / AFP) (Photo by EZRA ACAYAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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MANILA, PHILIPPINES – SEPTEMBER 06: Kelly Olynyk #13 of Canada shoots the ball against Klemen Prepelic #7 of Slovenia in the third quarter during the FIBA Basketball World Cup quarterfinal game at Mall of Asia Arena on September 06, 2023 in Manila, Philippines. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – SEPTEMBER 06: Kelly Olynyk #13 of Canada shoots the ball against Klemen Prepelic #7 of Slovenia in the third quarter during the FIBA Basketball World Cup quarterfinal game at Mall of Asia Arena on September 06, 2023 in Manila, Philippines. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /

Team Canada’s Kelly Olynyk – Center/Power Forward

Per Game Average – 23.4 minutes, 12 points (44% overall, 46% from TWO, 41% from THREE, 88% FT), 5.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, BPM +9.2, EFF 13.6

So, it’s not shocking that Kelly Olynyk is at No. 4, as the Team Canada and Utah Jazz big man was not seen as being as vital to his team as the other three men were ahead of him. That said, Olynynk may have done the most to prove his value to the Jazz with his FIBA World Cup run.

Olynyk and Jordan Clarkson are two of the oldest men on the team, and with Olynyk’s contract, many assumed that he would be part of a trade deal at some point going forward; and he still might be. But after watching Olynyk essentially morph into whatever Team Canada needed from him on any given night, it should give the Jazz pause to trade him.

Olynyk is likely looking at minutes off the bench with the Utah Jazz, and that might not be a bad thing. With his versatility and the fact the Jazz’s bench identity is up in the air, Olynyk may be able to come in and do for the Jazz what Kevin Love did for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021-2022; be a stable hand who can do a little bit of everything for a high-powered offense.

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