Utah Jazz: 5 options for pick No. 30 in 2017 NBA Draft
By Jason Oliver
4. Johnathan Motley, PF/C, Baylor
Another athletic and long prospect, the Jazz will be keeping an eye on Motley who DraftExpress expect to go 38th to the Chicago Bulls.
His potential to score the ball in the NBA is evident in his length. At 6’9″ with a 7’4″ wingspan and 9’0″ standing reach, Motley finished in the 82nd percentile in shots around with rim at 62.1 percent, scoring 17.2 points per game. What’s most impressive is he did so even with his poor perimeter shooting.
DraftExpress note his potential to improve further:
"“With the increased importance in perimeter-oriented skills among modern NBA bigs, Motley becomes an intriguing prospect in that he has shooting potential and the ability to put the ball on the floor in a straight line.”"
One of Motley’s biggest strengths is his offensive potential, but as an emotional and hustle-style player, he can be a reliable defender. Averaging 9.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game, Motley fits the mold of the undersized, small-ball center position that is steadily growing in popularity.
For a team like the Jazz, it might not be the ideal fit.
With a tendency to rely on size and length, the option of a small-ball center might not be of any interest but should the Jazz opt for the undersized option, Motley is an ideal rookie candidate.