The Utah Jazz need a lot of help this offseason and we've talked in length about those needs. A second big that can come off the bench and play meaningful defense, more depth at the wings, who can play more defense. A guard or two, who, shockingly, can play defense. Really just defense.
Though a new guard wouldn't hurt.
The Utah Jazz may not retain Kris Dunn, which could be a catastrophic decision this offseason, depending on which way the team goes, and there's no real excitement around the pairing of Keyonte George and Collin Sexton, two ball-dominant guards who can't play defense. Asking them to be the starting backcourt for the 2024-2025 season would go poorly. If the Jazz are serious about winning this season, they both can't be back.
Not as starters, anyway. Neither man is good on defense, and neither man makes the perimeter a more lethal area for the Utah Jazz. They need a defender who's able to knock down some threes. One player in the draft is known for just that and it's Reed Sheppard out of Kentucky.
It's not hard to see that he's being a bit overvalued, but I'm of the mindset that at 1st or 29th in the NBA Draft if the Jazz have the chance to take Sheppard, they better do so. He may not have All-Star potential, at least not yet, but his three-and-D potential, as a guard, cannot be overlooked.
He's someone the Jazz would benefit from instantly, and CBS Sports' Kyle Boothe agrees. He has the guard going to the Jazz at the 8th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, where he explained the pick;
"Sheppard goes one spot behind his fellow UK freshman teammate to the Jazz. He had a stellar one-and-done season as one of the best 3-point shooters in college and gives the Jazz a three-for-one skill set as a savvy defender, elite shooter and underrated passer.
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That's exactly what the Jazz need and to pass on him for a guy with more "potential" but less obvious skill, would be an issue. So many teams bust out and fall apart because they waste picks on upside over talent and man, we're hoping the Utah Jazz don't do that.