2016 NBA Mock Draft: Drafting For Need

Dragan Bender, a professional Croatian basketball player currently playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Basketball Super League attends a training session at the Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv on March 16, 2016.Bender's name is not yet well known beyond hardcore basketball fans, but that may soon change. Bender is expected to be highly sought after by US professional basketball teams in the coming months. / AFP / JACK GUEZ (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images) /

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Mar 13, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) brings the ball up court against Purdue Boilermakers guard P.J. Thompson (3) during the Big Ten conference tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

12. Utah Jazz: Denzel Valentine, Michigan State Spartans

Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 22 (11/16/1993)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’5.5″, 223 pounds, 6’9.5″
Slash Line: .462/.444/.853
Season Averages: 33.0 MPG, 19.2 PPG, 7.8 APG, 7.5 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 3.4 3PM

The Utah Jazz have built one of the most promising teams in the NBA. They tied the Milwaukee Bucks for having the youngest roster in the Association in 2015-16, and were dangerously close to a postseason appearance.

With injuries limiting both Alec Burks and Dante Exum’s availability, no player better fits the Jazz’s needs than Denzel Valentine.

Valentine is an outstanding shooter and passer who can provide invaluable depth to both Burks and Exum. He made 206 3-point field goals on 43.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc over his past two seasons, and posted 7.8 assists to 2.7 turnovers in 2015-16—good for an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.89.

Thus, Valentine would perfectly fit in Quin Snyder’s system, which depends heavily on floor spacing and ball movement.

Valentine struggles to create penetration against athletic defenders, which will severely limit his effectiveness in isolation. Building a perimeter that consists of he and Gordon Hayward would create remarkable versatility, however, and would essentially be a failsafe in the event of further injuries being sustained by Burks and/or Exum.

With or without Burks and Exum, Valentine could be superb for the Jazz.

Next: Phoenix Suns

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