Did the Utah Jazz pass on better players from the 2023 NBA Draft?

Bullets Dodged

These are some players that are giving their teams headaches. Whether they weren't NBA-ready or if they were poorly evaluated, these players have not lived up to expectations, and I'm thankful that Ainge and Co. had the foresight to avoid these players.

4. Jett Howard | Orlando Magic (11th overall)

This was a head-scratching pick at the time, and I'm still baffled by it. Up to this point, Howard has only played 11 games for the Magic, averaging 1.8 points per game. He's still young, and young players with potential always have the chance to pan out over the years, but I don't think I see it with Howard. Utah likely wouldn't have picked him up with the 16th pick if given the chance, but I'm still grateful Orlando made this mistake so the Jazz didn't have to.

5. Gradey Dick | Toronto Raptors (13th overall)

He may be one of the bigger disappointments of last year's draft, but I sincerely believe that I will buy his jersey some day. Coming out of Kansas, his buttery jump shot and relentless hustle shot him up draft boards. In hindsight, Dick probably should have spent another year in college. His shot has yet to translate to the NBA 3-pointer, and his slight frame has made defending his position a challenge. He is beginning to show flashes of great play, but his career hasn't began how Toronto had hoped.

6. Jalen Hood-Schifino | Los Angeles Lakers (picked 17th)

LA seems to have already given up on their first-round pick. He was graded a 5-star recruit out of high school, but things have clearly gone sour. Hood-Schifino doesn't play for the team that drafted him, and with LeBron's closing career window, the Lakers don't prioritize young player development. Hood-Schifino is busting hard, and it's good to know that Utah drafted a player of Keyonte George's ability one pick before the Lakers whiffed.

Utah did great with their draft picks. Keyonte George is already flashing incredible potential as a scorer and playmaker. Taylor Hendricks has been impressive with his limited (but hopefully soon increasing) playing time this season. Brice Sensabaugh will take some time to be ready for the NBA, but has been fantastic in his time with the Stars. Utah's front office impressed me with these draft picks, which makes me optimistic that they will continue to draft well in future drafts.