The Utah Jazz should start Georges Niang in Bojan Bogdanović’s place

Thanks to an untimely surgery on his right wrist, Bojan Bogdanović’s season is over. Believe it or not, Georges Niang might be the Jazz’s best bet for a solution.

Georges Niang has spent four seasons in the NBA — three of ‘em with the Utah Jazz. It wasn’t until this season, however, that Niang has proved he belongs in the league. Don’t get me wrong: I wouldn’t go as far as saying he’s had a “breakout” year, but considering the Indiana Pacers’ rapid willingness to move on from after one season of four-minute appearances, he’s made progress.

Cut and dry, his numbers have steadily improved. And while some of that likely has to do with him averaging double-digit minutes (13.3) for the first time in his career, his efficiency from behind the three-point line is what’s made him a strong weapon off the bench for Quin Snyder.

Niang’s a periphery player, so don’t expect Jordan Clarkson-esque numbers from him by any means. Night in and night out, he’s averaging 5.8 points, while shooting 41.6 percent from deep on only 3.2 attempts per contest. Those numbers might not look like much, but with his current 3-point percentage being the highest on the team, his shooting abilities can’t be overlooked.

Which brings me to the point of all of this: with Bojan Bogdanović out for the remainder of the eight-game regular season and subsequent playoffs, coach Snyder should start Niang in his place.

Joe Ingles has proven that his play off the bench is about as valuable as that beach-front property in Kansas you’ve had your eye on — for the sake of sanity, he needs to start at the three or four.

And while Royce O’Neale’s a sexy option to nab the other starting forward spot, though more athletic, he’s three inches shorter than Niang, making the Jazz smaller than they’d like to be early on in a game. Remember: Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell are both just over six feet tall.

Furthermore, though just as gifted (if not more so) a 3-point shooter as Niang, O’Neale’s the Jazz’s best perimeter defender. In tight games, there’s no doubt he’ll close with the starting unit over Georges, but the Jazz need another bonafide talent off the bench to pair with Clarkson.

Niang’s a nice piece, but with bench play a massive playoff priority, O’Neale’s the better fit.

And finally, as pointed out by Kevin Pelton during Wednesday’s episode of The Lowe Post, a four-man lineup for Utah consisting of Conley, Mitchell, Ingles and O’Neale has only played a whopping 17 minutes together all season. Whether a result of the Jazz’s untimely injuries this year or something subtle coach Snyder sees in his roster, that’s a shockingly low number.

Jazz fans are certainly known for their out-of-this-world expectations …

And don’t tell me otherwise, as I’ve spent enough time with you on Twitter to know what’s up.

But no matter how you slice it, Bogey’s injury was a swift kick to the groin of the Jazz’s lofty title aspirations. As I see it, though, winning a first-round series out West could easily make this season a success. Given the emotional toll the Jazz have undergone the past three months, however, making that happen will require creativity — Niang as a starter checks that box.