UPDATE: The Utah Jazz have sent the #23 pick to Memphis as part of a trade package for Mike Conley. If you’re reading this, you’re probably a Memphis Grizzlies fan. Well you’re in luck. We here in Utah are so generous, we made this entire draft preview just for you. We just didn’t know that until June 20th. We’ve ranked the best players who could be had at #23 in the NBA Draft. Since we anticipate many of you were too busy ogling Ja Morant at #2 to worry about the back end of the Draft, take a look at this and get caught up with these players.
We have ranked the Top 15 Players who could be available for the Utah Jazz Memphis Grizzlies at that 23rd pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Each one of these Draft Previews has input from the player’s college SB Nation site. We wanted to get information straight from the people who have been watching these players for their entire collegiate career. Enjoy!
The 2019 NBA Draft is approaching quickly. The NBA Finals are the only thing that stands in the way of us and Draft-mania. While a lot of the hype is for the top 14 lottery picks, there are plenty of great players to be had once the lottery is over. Big contributors in this year’s playoffs like Rodney Hood, Rudy Gobert, Joe Ingles, Royce O’Neale, Kevon Looney, Draymond Green, Danny Green, Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka, Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and others were drafted later or not drafted at all in the lottery or the entire NBA Draft.
As Utah could be devoting more of their salary cap to another third star, the NBA Draft becomes a pivotal piece in finding diamonds in the rough on inexpensive contracts as they continue to build toward a championship contending team. Who would be the best targets for Utah? We have ranked the Top 15 Players who could be available for the Utah Jazz at that 23rd pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Each one of these Draft Previews has input from the player’s college SB Nation site. We wanted to get information straight from the people who have been watching these players for their entire collegiate career.
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15. Eric Paschall - Villanova
In the mold of Draymond Green and PJ Tucker, Eric Paschall is the big-bodied, versatile, “glue guy” type of player that NBA teams are desperate to find at the power forward position ... read more
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14. Dylan Windler - Belmont
Every year it seems like a draft prospect slips later because of his age. Simply being a junior or a senior makes a big difference on draft night. But every year there are those late round guys that overproduce compared to their draft slot. I’m talking about guys like ... read more
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13. Carsen Edwards - Purdue
Carsen Edwards was the darling of the NCAA tournament. Carsen Edwards took advantage of his time on college’s biggest stage and put on a show. Like small scoring guards in prior years like Trey Burke and Kemba Walker, Carsen Edwards lit up some of college’s best teams as he averaged 34.8 points a game on 7.0 threes per game. He shattered the prior ... read more
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12. Talen Horten-Tucker - Iowa State
A Chicago native, Horton-Tucker was a 4-star recruit coming out of high school, and was recruited by schools like Illinois and Xavier, eventually choosing Iowa State. He has dealt with a lot of difficult losses in his life, including losing his father just days before committing to Iowa State. He’s overcome a lot of ... read more
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11. Grant Williams - Tennessee
Grant Williams has had an amazing collegiate career with two SEC Player of the Year awards and was a first team All-American. He is lower on most draft boards because of his weight and by virtue of being an upperclassmen. In addition to having high basketball IQ, he’s just a bright kid. He had turned down offers from the ... read more
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10. Luka Samanic, Petrol Olimpija
Another year, another Luka - only this guy is from Croatia, the neighboring country of Slovenia (where Luka Doncic hails from). For what it’s worth, Samanic has consistently been considered the second best international prospect in the 2019 draft (after Sekou Doumbouya), in a draft with a record 58 international players declaring early-entry. He’s (Samanic) been playing professional basketball since ... read more
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9. Matisse Thybulle, Washington
Certainly one of the more interesting specimens in the draft field, Matisse Thybulle is a wonder to behold at times. He’s also puzzling as a prospect as well. Hence, why he may be in range for the Utah Jazz to draft him. Thybulle is almost the pure definition ... read more
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8. Luguentz Dort, Arizona State
Luguentz Dort only played one season at Arizona State University, but the freshman shooting guard made an impact as a 33-game starter. He was the Sun Devils’ leading scorer at 16.1 points per game. At the end of the season, Dort racked up the accolades. He was named ... read more
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7. KZ Okpala, Stanford
KZ Okpala might be the prototypical 3 in the NBA: a rangy stopper, with incredible physical measurements. At the combine, he clocked in with a body fat percentage of 4.60%, crazy wide wingspan of 7’2”, standing reach of 8’10.5”, and a vertical leap of 37 inches. One scout described him as a “longer ... read more
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6. Cameron Johnson, North Carolina
As the season came to a close, Utah Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey was quoted with the following: “Adding a sniper at any position is something we’re going to have to strongly evaluate”. The draft is a great opportunity for thorough evaluations, and I’m sure finding more shooting is still at the forefront of his mind. University of North Carolina’s Cameron Johnson is certainly going to ... read more
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5. Keldon Johnson, Kentucky
Keldon Johnson is another one-and-done prospect from traditional Super Freshman school Kentucky. In 2018-19 Johnson started 36 games for the Wildcats, helping the team to another Final Four appearance. After the season, Johnson was named SEC Rookie of the Year and was placed on the ... read more
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4. Tyler Herro, Kentucky
At pick number 23 in the draft, the Jazz might not find a better scoring option that Kentucky’s Tyler Herro. He might not be the best scorer in that range, but he is probably the most versatile and dynamic scorer in the non-lottery range. Herro played his college days at Kentucky surrounded by some pretty great athletes ... read more
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3. P.J. Washington, Kentucky
PJ Washington projects as a solid stretch four prospect out of one of the biggest blue-blood schools in the country, the Kentucky Wildcats. Washington put his name into the draft in 2018 but pulled his name in favor of returning for his sophomore season. He led a talented Wildcats team in scoring and helped anchor ... read more
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2. Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga
Recruited out of Japan, Rui Hachimura has a lot of raw tools and athleticism, but hasn’t had the benefits of being able to cultivate those against elite competition. At Gonzaga, he has had to first learn English before he could be part of a team. English is a notoriously difficult language for Japanese speakers and vice versa. The two languages are from two different ... read more
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1. Nassir Little, North Carolina
To make it in the NBA players need to have either elite skill or athleticism. Nassir Little brings elite athleticism and size at the wing that will make him a potentially high level defender in the NBA. Some have even compared him to a previous boom/bust candidate a few years ago ... read more