With the 2024 NBA Draft less than 72 hours away, the Utah Jazz are considering their options. Keep the #10 pick along with #29 and #32 and go heavy on the young guys in 2024-25, trade one or more picks to move up in this draft, or get additional picks down the line. Or they can trade them all in a wild deal for veteran help NOW.
It's all on the table for Danny Ainge, the riverboat gambler who loves to make deals with draft picks.
Let's discuss what players are available to the Utah Jazz that would make sense at the #10 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Matas Buzelis, SF, G-League Ignite - 6'9" 209 lbs.
Buzelis is a puzzling prospect, admittedly. He came with much fanfare out of high school and ultimately committed to the G-League Ignite over several offers from D-1 schools in the USA. His first year there was uneven - 14.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, and 44.5% shooting from the field (27.3% from 3). The Ignite had a rough season, which took some of the buzz off him as a Top-3 prospect.
He needs to get stronger and work on his shot selection. But he's the second-best SF prospect this year and is being considered as high as #5 for Detroit by some mock drafts due to his multifaceted skills - passing, rebounding, defense, and three-level scoring. He can handle the ball in the open court and finish in traffic, things that should only get better with more talent around him.
Having him able to ease into a rotation role would likely help his development in Utah, where he would not be expected to be a star immediately, or even start in Year One. The right situation would be hugely beneficial to him and to the Jazz.
The Jazz could do a lot worse than a forward who can develop into a solid starter with highlight potential, and thus Buzelis would be a great selection at #10 overall.
Devin Carter, PG, Providence - 6'3" 195 lbs.
Known as a tough defender and high-volume scorer, Carter would be a nice addition to the Jazz backcourt, especially if they move off of Jordan Clarkson's contract this summer.
Carter averaged 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while shooting a solid 37.7% from distance at Providence as a junior. He has some ability to play off the basketball which would play well in a backcourt with Collin Sexton or Keyonte George, and has good size for a point guard or reserve combo guard.
According to ESPN's Jay Bilas, Carter is a 'gritty, long, athletic guard'. The Jazz need that, as well as his ability to catch and shoot, which plays well with Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George in a lineup.
Making this pick would indicate the Jazz's interest in using Carter as a combo guard, behind George, or possibly in tandem with him and having George play the two at times.
While his ceiling may not be as high as Stephon Castle or Dalton Knecht, he's much more likely to be available for the Utah Jazz at the #10 pick.
Dalton Knecht, SG, Tennessee - 6'6" 213 lbs.
A season ago, Dalton Knecht played for the University of Northern Colorado of the Big Sky Conference and chose to transfer to the SEC. He joined the Tennessee Volunteers. A drop in statistical production followed as he adjusted to the rise in competition, but Knecht not only translated to big-school basketball, he excelled, with his rebounding being the only major stat to take a hit (from 7.2 to 4.9 per game).
His story feels like another Big Sky recruit who flew under the radar, Damian Lillard. And also evokes some comparisons to Scottie Pippen, the NBA Hall-of-Famer who had the late growth spurt, like Knecht, and grew into his body and became a stellar college player and later an NBA great.
Knecht averaged 21.7 points per game in his final year of college basketball, along with 45/39/77 shooting splits and a competitiveness that was infectous to his teammates.
He will have to adapt to stronger, quicker players at the NBA level, and his ballhandling could improve a bit, but his shooting form and consistency will translate to the next level. His on-the-move shot taking is reminiscent of players like Ray Allen and Klay Thompson at times.
Having him rolling for catch-and-shoot 3s in the Jazz offense would be fun to watch for the next decade.
Ron Holland, G-League Ignite, SF, 6'7" 197 lbs.
If the Jazz are looking for scoring at the 3 spot, Ron Holland would fit the bill. He has good defensive chops and length - two things the Jazz could use on the wing.
Holland averaged 20.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3 assists a night with G-League Ignite, and looks like a Top 12 pick from most mock drafts.
Getting him at #10 would help fill the depth lost when Simone Fontecchio was dealt to Detroit last season. Though Holland's 3 point shooting could use some work, he's a strong and creative finisher and an explosive athlete.
Putting Holland and Taylor Hendricks in the frontcourt, along with Walker Kessler would bring some strong defense and highlight dunks that were missing at times from the Utah Jazz last season. And having him get open looks and drives with the attention paid to Lauri Markkanen would only improve Holland's game.
Holland should be strongly considered by the Jazz for the #10 pick, if he's still available.
That's the list. For now. As with any NBA Draft, the chance that the Jazz move up or make trades can blow all of this out of the water. But these are 4 solid prospects that should fall within the Jazz's draft range and would be great to watch in Utah next season.