It sounds like the Utah Jazz are leaning towards Reed Sheppard if he falls to them
By Chad Porto
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It sounds like of all the prospects at the NBA Combine, that Reed Sheppard may have helped his draft stock most of all. The already lights-out shooter from Kentucky, Sheppard came into the combine and tested fantastically. He proved to have a higher vertical leap than previously thought and his athleticism beyond that was among the more impressive numbers of the whole process.
Combined with his defensive acumen, his shooting stroke, and his speed and power, you have a guy who could realistically help a team out on day one. Where he falls, however, is anyone's guess. He could be the number one overall pick or he could fall to the Utah Jazz at No. 10. A scenario the Jazz may be hoping for.
Sarah Todd of Deseret News.com revealed recently that Sheppard made a big impression on the Utah Jazz at the combine, saying;
"Kentucky freshman guard Reed Sheppard tested incredibly well at the combine. Though measuring in at just 6-feet-1.75 inches without shoes on, he posted the eighth-best standing vertical leap and fourth-best max vertical leap among all combine participants. The Jazz were already intrigued by Sheppard’s athleticism and skill, but he also had a great interview with the Jazz."
I'm on board with drafting Sheppard for all the above reasons. He's fast, powerful, has a great shot, plays good defense and just seems like an all-around good player. That said, the biggest reason is that all of his positive traits are exactly what the Utah Jazz most need. The team has no real defensive help at the guard position, aside from Kris Dunn, who may not even return. They have no real three-point shooting outside of Lauri Markkanen, and the team needs a guy who can get a shot off at any point on the court.
Which he can do.
Maybe he's not the perfect fit for the Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, or Orlando Magic, but he's the perfect fit for the Utah Jazz. Hopefully, he's the guy the Jazz land, as he would likely remake this team's perimeter play from the jump.
He may not be a Hall of Famer, but he could be good enough to be an All-Star a time or two and from this draft, that may be all you need (or can get for that matter).
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