The Utah Jazz held off the Washington Wizards down the stretch to finish with the worst record in the NBA, locking in a top 5 pick for this year's draft.
Even if the Jazz's worst-case scenario plays out, there are a few highly touted prospects at the top of the draft this year who could be long-term pieces for the Jazz. These are the five prospects the Jazz have to choose from.
Cooper Flagg, SF, Duke
Let's get the obvious one out of the way. If the Jazz get the first overall pick, they will select Cooper Flagg, no ifs, ands, or buts. Flagg has been penciled in as the number one overall pick since he played against Team USA in Olympic trials and received many reports that he was competing with current NBA All-Stars.
The freshman phenom averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game at Duke, and he plays hard on the defensive end as well. Flagg is the best prospect this year, and the Jazz are praying for those 14% odds to slide their way to allow them to scoop up Flagg.
But everyone knows about Cooper Flagg, what about the other prospects the Jazz should keep their eye on?
Dylan Harper, PG/SG, Rutgers
Should the Jazz acquire the number two overall pick, Dylan Harper is most likely the choice to make. The son of Ron Harper has drawn some high praise from draft evaluations. A good player comparison is Jalen Brunson or Cade Cunningham.
Harper averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game at Rutgers. He is a combo guard who can handle the ball well and play off it, adding a versatile skillset to whoever drafts him. He also owns a 6'10" wingspan, which could help on defense, where he could help make up for his lateral not-so-quickness.
Harper also needs to work on his shooting consistency, as he shot only 33.3% from beyond the arc. He needs to improve at that element of his game to be successful in the NBA. He does have a strong slashing game that will translate well to the NBA.
Ace Bailey, SF/PF, Rutgers
If you want a stretch forward who can score from anywhere on the court, Ace Bailey is who you want on your team. Bailey averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, but his most impressive stat is 41% from three on 5.1 attempts per game. Two-for-five from three from your stretch forward seems like a deal most teams would take.
Bailey has a six-foot-10 frame with a seven-foot wingspan, so he has defensive potential, but it isn't what he's known for. His elite athleticism and shot-making are what will have him drafted this high. He has drawn comparisons to Paul George and Brandon Miller.
He has a smaller build and sometimes has too much confidence in his shot, which are drawbacks to this pick, but with some coaching and time in the weight room, he can overcome these shortcomings.
VJ Edgecombe, SG, Baylor
VJ Edgecombe is the exception in this list, being a defensive first guard with a developing offensive game. That's not to say he can't score, but 34% from three won't scare many teams. His offense improved as his freshman season progressed, but that trend needs to continue.
Edgecombe excels in creating and then capitalizing on transition plays, averaging over two steals per game. He averaged 15 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, but also only 3.2 assists per game. If he is a defense-first guard, his playmaking has to improve to transition well to the next level. Victor Oladipo is a good comparison for Edgecombe.
Tre Johnson, SG, Texas
Tre Johnson is another heavy offense guy with some defensive upside. Johnson averaged 17.2 points per game, but only shot 36% from three. He does possess three-level scoring ability, he just needs to knock down the outside shot with a bit more consistency.
Johnson has a six-foot-six frame, but he has a massive seven-foot wingspan. He needs to use that wingspan to get in passing lanes more often and be more of a disruptor on defense. Johnson is the weakest of the top five prospects, but he has a ton of physical tools that teams are looking for; it's just a matter of molding him into what teams want.
The Jazz may lose the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes, but there's plenty of consolation prizes in this draft.