The Utah Jazz got blown out by the Phoenix Suns tonight. Shocker! With the Jazz putting themselves in a good position to ensure they won't convey their pick to Oklahoma City, nights like tonight will keep happening until the season is over. At the same time, they still get to see who should be around for next year's team and who shouldn't.
Tonight, they gave Svi Mykhailiuk some burn for the first time in almost a month, and he immediately let his presence be known. In less than 10 minutes of playing time, Mykhailiuk put up 14 points on five-for-seven shooting, including four threes. Not to mention, in a game that was over and done almost immediately, he had a positive plus/minus of plus-13.
Nights like tonight show just how valuable Mykhailiuk will be to the Jazz, as his contributions will go toward something worthwhile next season. With Utah flipping the switch next season, they need help from their supporting cast, but may struggle to find diamonds in the rough.
Luckily, they apparently planned ahead of time for that when they brought in Mykhailiuk, who is not only their unsung hero, but will be good help and for cheap next season.
Mykhailiuk will be dead-eye shooting with size in Utah next season
Utah already knows they plan to trot out a jumbosized lineup, and Mykhailiuk should fit right in to that. He may not necessarily be a 3&D player necessarily, but his size to go with his floor spacing should make the Jazz even toughter to stop when he's on the floor.
He may not always hit four threes in less than 10 minutes of playing time, but he is that kind of shooting threat when he takes the floor. He has proven himself intimidating enough for opponents to take him seriously. Doing so will make it easier for the Jazz's other scorers to put the ball in the bucket.
The Jazz *probably* won't start him next season, and that's okay because all that matters is that the second unit has a fair amount of firepower for when they start trying next season. It's pretty coll to see a journeyman like Mykhailiuk not only find a home in Utah but also see what he does go into a team that will need what he provides.
Best of all, the Jazz have him under contract until 2028, so they will get good shooting for cheap on a team whose ceiling over the next two seasons is a little ambiguous. Mykhailiuk won't be their most pivotal player, but he won't be just another body on the roster, that's for sure!