4 burning questions for the Utah Jazz entering training camp
By Dan Lower
3. Are any of the Jazz rookies ready for big minutes?
Cody Williams.
Isaiah Collier.
Kyle Filipowski.
3 rookies. A swingman, a guard, and a big man.
Based on roster depth and need, Cody Williams has the most likely path to significant minutes as a rookie. If Taylor Hendricks earns a starting spot next to Lauri Markkanen, then Williams will compete with newly acquired Svi Mykhailiuk and 2nd-year man Brice Sensabaugh for minutes on the wing. Both of those players will also slot in for backup minutes at the 2, which could bode well for Williams.
Isaiah Collier has size and good ability as a point guard, and maybe a combo guard in a 3 guard lineup, allowing Keyonte George, Collin Sexton, or Jordan Clarkson to slot in next to him. Point Guard is the hardest position to learn in the NBA, but Collier has a savvy veteran in Patty Mills on roster to show him the ropes, not to mention school him in practice a bit, to get the rook ready for the league.
Kyle Filipowski faces the longest odds of getting meaningful minutes, barring a roster move. He seems more at home as a forward in the NBA, and with Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Taylor Hendricks all likely to get minutes at the 4, he's likely to see more time at the 5, where he has Walker Kessler and Drew Eubanks to compete with, as well as two-way player Micah Potter.
A slow start for the team in the win-loss column could shift the Jazz coaches to focus on growing the young guys. The past two seasons, this hasn't happened until late February or early March, however. If they want to see what they have from Williams, Collier, and Filipowski, they need to play early and often, especially if roster moves happen that open more minutes at their positions.