What to expect from the Utah Jazz’s position groups this season
By Dan Lower
The position group with the most questions going into the season is undoubtedly the guards. From who will start, to who will finish, and how they will perform. The guards are the X-Factor on if they reach the playoffs or not. If they can stay healthy and work off each other, they can be greater than the sum of their parts.
Jordan Clarkson heads up the list, as the longest-tenured Jazzman and the 2nd leading scorer from last year’s team. It should be expected to see Clarkson in the starting lineup for 2023-24 after how he performed last season. He could see a slight dip in scoring from his 20.8 average of a year ago, but should still be one of the team’s top performers this season. Getting his shooting percentages up and improving his decision-making are reasonable expectations for Jordan.
Collin Sexton, who played mostly as a reserve in his first year in Utah, can fulfill expectations by improving as a passer and defender this season. He may earn the starting job at point guard if he can show significant improvement in these areas during training camp, but it’s likely he will continue in the 6th man role if little improvement is evident.
Keyonte George is in the enviable position of having high expectations, due to his summer league performance that drew national attention. He could be the next Donovan Mitchell or the next Raul Neto. The expectation is that he comes in, carves out a nice role (15-20 minutes a night) for himself early, brings solid defense, and outplays the starting guards on occasion.
Kris Dunn was a huge bonus for the Jazz last season, turning two 10-day contracts into a regular role in the rotation. He now has a chance to fulfill the potential he showed as a 5th overall pick in 2016. He needs to show continued improvement in leading the offense and locking down opponents defensively if he wants to earn a starting spot. He also has to fend off Keyonte George – a young rookie who wants his minutes and role, which should keep him hungry and competing each night.
Ochai Agbaji was not a significant name in the Donovan Mitchell trade last September, but by March he was playing over 20 minutes a night in the Utah Jazz rotation. While his shooting suffered late in the year, he showed flashes of potential that made the Jazz wonder if they had found another rotation piece. As a guard with size (6’5″ 215 lbs.) the expectation is that he continues to improve defensively and show more consistency with his offense. He may not earn a starting spot right away, but if the Jazz make more moves he’s in line for a bigger role.
Talen Horton-Tucker is entering his 4th NBA season. We will classify him as a guard, even though he plays forward at times. The expectation for him in 2023-24 is to provide solid defense at both guard spots, as well as small forward when called upon. Improving his shot selection and playmaking are reasonable expectations as well.