The competitors for the highest 5 draft picks is hard this season for the NBA’s backside denizens. As dangerous as Utah Jazz As has been the case this season, 4 groups would nonetheless have higher lottery odds than Utah if the season ended right this moment.
Tankathon.com put collectively his most up to date mock draft with the Jazz within the five-hole and predicted that Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe would start his NBA profession in Salt Lake Metropolis. Edgecombe averaged 11.7 and 5.9 rebounds per recreation throughout his freshman yr at Baylor.
VJ Edgecombe’s instruments, two-way instincts and really feel for the sport will see him drafted within the high 10 in June. He has a deadly first step and is arguably the most effective defensive playmaker within the nation, with a block/steal price that hasn’t been seen within the NCAA since Matisse Thybulle. pic.twitter.com/VPX5GQiijr
– Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) December 10, 2024
Edgecombe is an elite athlete who excels in transition and might stress the rim. The Jazz have recruited wings able to enjoying a positionless type of basketball. It is a participant that matches the mildew of what the Jazz drafted with their 2024 lottery choose, Cody Williams. He’s additionally thought of probably the greatest defensive gamers within the draft. Utah has struggled on protection since starting its rebuild in 2022.
Edgecombe has the excessive ceiling the rebuilding Jazz are in search of, however some areas want work earlier than he makes an affect on the NBA degree. As a three-point shooter, Edgecombe is taking pictures simply 28.6 % this season and 40.6 % from the sector.
Touchdown at 5 o’clock can be an enormous disappointment for the Jazz. Previous to this yr, it was made clear that the main focus this yr can be on creating Utah’s youth. The consensus on most mock drafts is that Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper are the highest three picks. There may be undoubtedly a drop in expertise from choose #4.
Final weekend, the battle for lottery odds turned extra aggressive as a result of Brooklyn fillets commerce Dorian Finney-Smith. We will additionally count on Cameron Johnson to be dealt earlier than the February 6 commerce deadline. Brooklyn is 4 video games behind Utah relating to lottery odds.
The Jazz had the prospect to stay aggressive for a high choose. Utah had a fourth-quarter lead in its final two losses in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers And Portland Path Blazers. In addition they minimize the result in one level within the fourth quarter in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
John Collins, Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton are the candidates most certainly to be moved earlier than the deadline. Utah can afford to be considerably affected person, but when they string collectively a couple of wins, count on them to be extra aggressive with their tanking strategy.
It is a pivotal yr for Utah. The Jazz are in possession of three first-rounders and a ton of cap house if they will get Clarkson and Collins out of contract. We will count on extra rumors to swirl round Salt Lake Metropolis till the deadline.
