Not many expected Kris Dunn to return to the Utah Jazz after his brief stint with the team. That's not to say Dunn wasn't productive in Utah because, for what it's worth, he was. In fact, Dunn was a fun success story to watch in Utah, even if it didn't lead to much.
The former No. 5 pick had one foot out of the NBA before the Jazz signed him, and he played well enough that he was taken off the board by a team hoping to win a title (as unlikely as that might be now for the Clippers at this point). All that's left is getting his replacement—that is if they want one.
Replacing Dunn doesn't necessarily mean finding a free agent with a similar skillset, though one would be nice. In this case, a replacement can be someone who's had the same story as Dunn, i.e., a former first-round pick who struggled to find his place after not meeting expectations only to finally find his niche with the Jazz.
The truth is, there are no carbon copies of Kris Dunn out there, but there are players out there who bring certain elements that he once brought. That goes beyond his skillset as a player.
Patrick Beverley: Last played for Milwaukee
Please don't laugh at this... for too long at least. Yeah, Beverley is a funny suggestion, and that's not just because of his reputation around the NBA. For those who don't remember, the Jazz once had Beverley on their roster before they traded him to the Lakers for Talen Horton-Tucker.
On paper, Beverley brings some of the attributes that Dunn brought: hard-nosed defense with some offensive finesse. And, of course, he is a tone-setter. He brings a sense of nastiness. The Jazz may not be in the position to win, but they could benefit long-term from having someone who can get really down and dirty.
Beverley's approach to the game has, at times, been grating to some of his previous teams. However, if the Jazz want someone who could do a lot of what Dunn could and at a cheap price, Beverley would be their guy.
Saddiq Bey: Last played for Atlanta
Bey is on the younger side at 25 years old. As an unrestricted free agent, Bey would be worth taking a flyer on, much like the flyer the Jazz took on Dunn. The only problem? He'll miss most, if not all, of the 2024-25 season because of a torn ACL.
As long as they sign him to a two-year deal, that is a risk worth taking. Bey has proven that he has some NBA-caliber skills. He could very well prove to be a dependable wing in the Jazz's rotation. Since he's coming off an ACL tear, he will likely come cheap since his injury will severely limit his market.
He has proven himself as a solid rebounder and floor-spacer for his size albeit not consistently. In a pressure-free environment like Utah, he could get his career back on track. If Utah is willing to play the long game with him, they could get a better return on investment than they did with Dunn.
Precious Achiuwa: Last played for New York
The Knicks opted not to give Achiuwa a qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent. Achiuwa was productive when New York gave him playoff minutes after Mitchell Robinson went down with an injury. So much so that, no matter where he goes, he might be one of the biggest steals of the offseason.
If the Jazz want good production on the cheap, Achiuwa might be the guy they want. If the rumors surrounding Walker Kessler prove to be true, then Achiuwa could come in as a cheap replacement.
He's not much of a shot-blocker, but he's a smart and versatile defender coming to a team in dire need of high-IQ defenders. You know who is a high-IQ defender that Utah will lose in the coming week or so? Kris Dunn. Achiuwa is more of a big than a guard, but he would help the Jazz on the defensive side of the floor.
Add in some fierce offensive rebounding, and if the price is low enough, Achiuwa would be an excellent pickup at a bargain.
Markelle Fultz: Last played for Orlando
This is definitely the most optimistic name out of everyone who's mentioned. To be fair, Fultz has already somewhat found himself in the NBA after a turbulent start with the 76ers. The Magic also began phasing him out, though that had less to do with him and more to do with them utilizing players who fit the roster better.
Coming off an injury-plagued season with a diminished role, he would be perfect as a buy-low candidate. The days of hoping Fultz will be a star one day are gone, but he's proven that he's a starter on an NBA team. While the Magic may see him as expendable, the Jazz could certainly use Fultz's defense and playmaking abilities that Dunn provided for them.
Fultz is likely to be a buy-low candidate for teams who are vying for a title. Luckily the one edge the Jazz have is they can offer him more because of their cap room. At only 26 years old, Fultz is still young enough that seeing what he can offer at this stage is worth checking out.