The Utah Jazz are likely to give all of their players on the roster a fair chance. A rebuild allows a team to evaluate all of their options to see who should stay and who should go. Timelines may clash at times, but Utah will get to see who is a long-term fixture.
Some veterans like John Collins and Jordan Clarkson may be on their way out soon enough, which opens up even more opportunities. Among those who may get a real chance is little-known guard Johnny Juzang.
Even though Juzang has only two years and 38 NBA games to his name, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman explained why he believes Juzang is ready for the NBA.
Why Juzang is NBA-ready
Wasserman explained why he believes Juzang has shown enough to prove that he belongs in the NBA. He cited his performance with the Jazz's G-League affiliate, the SLC Stars.
"Johnny Juzang looked like a pro with the Utah Jazz late last season, after he averaged 20.5 points in 34 games for the Salt Lake City Stars.
"He shot 41.6 percent from deep in 20 NBA appearances, and it's no question that the main draw to the 23-year-old is his shotmaking. He shot 45.6 percent on catch-and-shoot chances, per Synergy Sports.
"Juzang also made 57.6 percent of his twos, though. He capitalized in transition and from off the ball, showing a good feel on his drives, touch in the lane, and timing on his cuts."
He also acknowledged that the Jazz may not prioritize him over other prospects.
"Utah does have potentially higher-priority prospects to develop, including 2024 lottery pick Cody Williams and former first-rounder Brice Sensabaugh. But Juzang made a compelling case for minutes in both the G League and his 372 NBA minutes."
The Jazz have a lot of youth to develop - which again is why some of their older veterans like Collins and Clarkson are better off elsewhere - so Juzang is likely pretty low on the pecking order. However, don't be surprised if he gets his shot even said comes later rather than sooner.
Juzang has played well for the Jazz (in a small sample size)
Again, Juzang doesn't have much experience to his NBA resume, but his numbers from last season are actually pretty encouraging even if they don't count for much.
Juzang averaged 7.2 points in 20 games for the Jazz during the 2023-24 season, but what's more exciting is his shooting efficiency. He shot 46.4% from distance and 41.6% from three. His three-point efficiency should definitely catch the eye because he averaged 3.9 attempts in 18.6 minutes a game.
In other words, his three-point efficiency was not a joke, so the Jazz may very well have another sharpshooter on their hands. Juzang probably won't be a star - most undrafted free agents who make it in the NBA never get that far - but for the Jazz to build the right way, they'll need the right components.
There's no guarantee Juzang will fit that bill, but he's proven enough to show that he shouldn't be counted out yet.
The Jazz have options with Juzang
The Jazz gave Juzang a four-year contract worth $12 million with only the 2024-25 season being guaranteed. If he proves that he's worth keeping, the Jazz will continue to guarantee his contract.
If he doesn't, the Jazz can simply cut him without a second thought. However, the Jazz will have plenty of room for young guys like him to prove his worth, and while he's not taking the world by storm, Juzang is taking his opportunity and running with it in Utah.