With their Summer League about to start, there's a lot to be excited about with the Utah Jazz. They have an intriguing rookie class about to embark on their NBA journeys, a pair of promising sophomores, and guys who are doing everything in their power
Even though Summer League has not and never will count for much, the Jazz will finally get a peak into how their young talent will look. For some, these are meaningless exhibitions whose intentions are merely to stretch their legs. For others, this could be all the difference between getting an NBA roster spot and fighting for one all season in the G-League.
The Jazz announced quite an interesting Summer League roster. So much so that, even if this will have little bearing on how the 2024-25 season turns out for them, there will be five players whose performances are certainly worth looking into.
5. Darius Bazley
It sounds weird to think that someone who appeared in six games for the Jazz during the 2023-24 season would be of any importance at all during a time like this. However, Bazley was once heavily featured in the Oklahoma City Thunder's rotation. Whether they were vying for the playoffs or rebuilding, they once counted on Bazley.
Sadly, that hasn't been the case in quite some time. Over the past few years, Bazley's role has fallen through the cracks enough that his NBA career is hanging by a thread. If there's one player on the Jazz who will definitely take the Summer League seriously, it will be Bazley,
As the most experienced player on the roster, going into his fifth year in the NBA, Bazley could use his NBA experience as a way to make himself stand out as both a player and as a role model for the plethora of young Jazz players.
4. Kyle Filipowski
Filipowski had one of the oddest drops the NBA has ever seen from a player who was invited into the green room. A floor-stretching big man who has a good feel for the game for his size, it remains puzzling that he fell all the way to the 32nd pick in the 2024 NBA Draft to the Jazz.
Players like those typically have a chip on their shoulder. They itch to prove that those who doubted them will rue the day they passed on guys like him from the very beginning. That typically starts with the summer league. This will be Filipowski's first chance to prove that the Jazz were right to take him when they had the chance and why those who didn't were dead wrong.
Expect Filipowski to come out strong to prove what he can do in the NBA from the get-go. Such play could make Jazz fans excited to see what he could do for the team long-term.
3. Taylor Hendricks
Hendricks had a largely uneven rookie season for the Jazz. Injuries and developing in the G-League made his rookie season an all-around mixed bag. The J Notes' Bryson Blue gave Hendricks a C+ for his rookie season in part because of that but also because Hendricks showed some promise once his role expanded with the Jazz.
After trading Kelly Olynyk, Ochai Agbaji, and Simone Fontecchio at the trade deadline, suddenly, more minutes opened up for Hendricks to take. While not setting the world on fire, Hendricks showed enough that his potential is certainly worth exploring.
With the Summer League, he now has the opportunity to build on an encouraging end to his first NBA season. Better yet, since he didn't play in the Summer League in 2023, Hendricks can show what he can truly do against a league full of NBA hopefuls.
2. Cody Williams
Williams was the highest pick for the Jazz in the 2024 NBA Draft. He projects to be a high-end 3&D wing in a league that values that exact skillset now more than ever. He likely will be a little raw when it comes to how he'll do on the offensive end, but there's a lot to like about his game.
In the Summer League, he won't face much pressure to score at a high clip since he will likely be surrounded by players who can put the ball in the bucket. While it would be nice to see him show some prowess on that end, if he wants to excite fans about his future, all he has to do is live up to the billing as a 3&D wing.
The Jazz were conceringly low when it came to defensive-minded personnel during the 2023-24 season. If Williams can show that he can do his part in turning that around while also showing his floor-spacing abilities, there will be a lot to like about him when his rookie season begins.
1. Walker Kessler
This is definitely the one plotline every Jazz fan should be keeping their eye on. Kessler playing in the Summer League when he's about to play in his third NBA season is a curious decision. Sure, his sophomore season did not go as planned, but noy many players who accomplished what Kessler did fall so hard that they play in the Summer League again.
Adding to the mystery are the rumors swirling around about Kessler's availability on the trade market. Because his sophomore season did not go well in the slightest, teams are calling the Jazz about him, and surprisingly, the Jazz aren't laughing in their faces when they do.
This Summer League performance could serve as either Kessler letting both the Jazz and the league know that he's going to be fine long-term. It could also serve as a showcase for any team who truly wants the impending third-year center. In any case, watching someone who many thought had All-Defense in his future play in the Summer League should make many stay tuned.
Don't worry. Many fans will also tune in to see the likes of Keyonte George, Isaiah Collier, and Brice Sensabaugh because they are truly intriguing players. However, these five were picked because there's more going on for them than those three are.
It just goes to show that this should be one of the most entertaining Jazz summer leagues that they've ever seen.