The Utah Jazz are back in the lottery after missing the playoffs, but next year’s team should be poised to make the postseason if they add a little more depth to their backcourt in the 2016 NBA Draft.
The Utah Jazz have a very versatile and intriguing roster, but they still have to answer a lot of questions in the backcourt, particularly at the point guard position.
Dante Exum did not play in a single game last season due to injury, while Raul Neto and Trey Burke had decent seasons as the primary point guards until Shelvin Mack came along.
Mack had an impressive campaign when he was sent over to the Jazz at the trade deadline. In a Jazz uniform, Mack averaged 12.7 points and 5.3 assists per game and he shot 35.7 percent from deep.
Mack immediately contributed when he became a member of the Jazz, but the team still needs to add depth in the backcourt.
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The Jazz have the No. 12 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft after finishing 40-42 and this will be the fourth year in a row that the Jazz have a lottery pick.
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Utah drafted Trey Lyles at pick No .13 in the 2015 NBA Draft, and he has a pretty decent rookie season (6.7 PPG, and he shot 38.3 percent from deep). The Jazz are hoping they can find a player that can help out right away and at pick No. 12, there should be plenty of options.
There are a couple names that should really catch the Jazz’s eyes and those players are Tyler Ulis, Wade Baldwin, Denzel Valentine and Timothe Luwawu. Below there will be a breakdown of each players. Ulis, Baldwin, Valentine, and Luwawu could all help out on the Jazz.
Tyler Ulis Breakdown
Ulis is one of the top point guards in the 2016 NBA Draft because of his court vision and spectacular skills on the defensive end. He is a little undersized at 5-foot-9 but he in an incredible facilitator and floor general, which is something the Jazz could use.
If Dante Exum does not work out, the team should have more backups like Ulis, who is a pass-first point guard.
He is also a great defender and he has an extremely high basketball IQ. The Jazz could use Ulis off the bench to run the offense and get players like Gordon Hayward, Rodney Hood and low-post players Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors going.
Wade Baldwin Breakdown
Baldwin is one of the most athletic players in the entire 2016 NBA Draft and he has a lot of potential as a floor general. He has great size and explosiveness for a point guard and he can also shoot the ball pretty well (40.6 percent from deep last season at Vanderbilt).
Baldwin has a lot of upside, but he also is going to need some time to control his game. He sometimes gets out of control, which is something he needs to work on.
Baldwin could add athleticism in the backcourt that the Jazz would like especially on the defensive end, and he has great size.
If the Jazz are going to take a point guard, they are going to have to decide between two very different point guards in Ulis and Baldwin, but both could help out the Jazz in different ways.
Timothe Luwawu Breakdown
Luwawu is one of the most intriguing players in the draft because he has the makings of prototypical NBA wing. He can be like a 3-and-D player at the next level and he is extremely athletic.
The Jazz could use his shooting and athleticism on the wing, but he is not a very good ball-handler.
Luwawu could be a risky pick, but he also could have a lot of reward at No. 12 for the Jazz if they want an explosive wing that can shoot the basketball.
Denzel Valentine Breakdown
Valentine could be the safest pick for the Jazz at No. 12 because he is so versatile. He did everything during his time in college, he was a floor general, a great shooter, and a pretty good defender.
He can score in a variety of ways and the Jazz could use his skills on the wing right away. He would be a safe pick for the Jazz because he would not need much time to get used to the NBA.
Overall
The Jazz need to add some depth to their backcourt and on the wings, which is why players like Ulis, Baldwin, Luwawu, and Valentine could be great for the team.
Each player will probably still be around at the No. 12 pick, which is great news if the Jazz decide to add depth to on the wing or in the backcourt.
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All of the players above would fit nicely on the Jazz and missing the playoffs last season should sting a little, but at least they get to hopefully add a player that can help out right away and push the Jazz to the postseason.