Despite leaving earlier than most expected from North Carolina, Tony Bradley snuck into the end of the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft with the Utah Jazz.
The Utah Jazz saw something in Tony Bradley on draft night when they moved up to take him with the 28th overall pick. Having parted ways with Trey Lyles and the 24th pick to go grab Donovan Mitchell at No. 13, there was a need for youth in Utah’s system.
At the time, Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors, Jeff Withey and Joel Bolomboy were the only true big men on the team. Boris Diaw was later waived and Favors’ long-term future seems uncertain. While not exceptional, the 2017 NBA Draft was flooded with young, risky bigs for Utah to replenish its ranks with. That player was always going to be available if the Jazz would abide.
Interestingly enough, Bradley wasn’t even expected to come out for the draft. After averaging just 14 minutes a game at North Carolina, he didn’t exactly solidly himself as a first round talent. The Jazz’s selection may prove that wasn’t necessary.
Following the draft, Bradley benefitted from getting to play in both the Utah and Las Vegas Summer League. He received over 21 minutes per contest, getting a proper run of games to prove himself. There was certainly some encouraging play to build off of for his rookie season. As he adjusts to the league, focusing on these key areas will aid both his progress and development.