Former Jazz standout without a job clearly deserves to be signed

The Utah Jazz have let multiple notable players go this offseason. Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, and John Collins are among their most notable departures. However, one of their departures was among their more more surprising moves, and what's even more surprising is that he still hasn't caught on with anyone else. This player in question is Johnny Juzang.

Juzang had been another success development story for the Jazz and their G-League system. After spending two years playing for the Jazz's Summer League team, the Salt Lake City Stars, and on two-way contracts, Juzang got his big break last year for the Jazz when they signed him to a standard contract.

Granted, he was playing for the worst team in the NBA, but Juzang didn't hold up too badly against NBA competition. In 64 games, he averaged 8.9 points and 2.9 rebounds while shooting nearly 43% from the field and 37.6% from three. That included starting 18 games this past season.

Though nothing has been confirmed, it's likely that Utah cut him to make room for some of their other young players, and after how the Summer League went for the Jazz, that's understandable. However, Juzang proved last season that he belongs in the NBA, so it's mystifying that no team has signed him, as he's a premier buy-low candidate.

Asking him to be a starter is probably pushing it, but Juzang is a floor-spacing wing in a league that values that kind of archetype. He doesn't have much NBA experience, but Juzang is feared when he's on the floor. In the near 20-minutes a game he played last year, he averaged almost five three-point attempts a game.

The Jazz clearly saw him as a weapon. If their focus had been on winning more games immediately, it's likely they would have kept him in the hopes of turning him into more of a Georges Niang type. It's worked before, so the only reason why they're not continuing is because Juzang's ceiling is limited compared to the other young talent.

From the looks of things, they're not entertaining a reunion. At least, not this year.

Juzang deserves a flyer from a contender

Every title contender typically has that one player that badly outplayed their contract. Juzang could fit that profile to a tee if one gives him that chance. In the NBA, teams are looking for diamonds in the rough now more than ever. Juzang could be that player.

Again, maybe it's pushing it to suggest he would be a rotation player on a playoff team, but he could be a dependable player for title contenders who are trying to conserve their best players as much as possible for when the postseason comes up. He could be, as the kids call it, an "innings eater."

From his catch-and-shoot three-point shooting abilities (compared to other free agents) teams could do a lot worse than him.

More than anything else, it would just be great to see someone like Juzang, who had to work his way from the ground up, keep this going with his Jazz days over. Rooting for him is not just for sentiment's sake, but because he's proven enough to warrant another chance.