Utah Jazz

Acquired: C Udoka Azubuike (Pick No. 27), Elijah Hughes (Pick No. 39), future draft compensation

Traded: F Saben Lee (Pick No. 38), C Tony Bradley

The Jazz wanted to go out and draft a backup center behind Rudy Gobert, but it is hard to imagine Udoka Azubuike will be much better than Tony Bradley had been for Utah. In today’s NBA, the big man is a position that has changed to a more versatile position and is not the old-fashioned, bruiser/post-up position it once was. Teams are looking for lengthy bigs who can stretch the court and shoot from the perimeter. This is far from what Udoka Azubuike is and what he could be in the NBA. 

Given his lack of pace and footwork, as well as his documented struggles offensively, it is hard to see what Udoka Azubuike will provide for the Utah Jazz. Not to mention, Udoka Azubuike was a prospect the Jazz could have easily traded up to draft in the second-round, they did not have to grab him at the back half of the first-round. Most mock drafts and projections had the Kansas big man being drafted between picks No. 48 & No. 55 so it was definitely a reach for the Jazz to take Azubuike when they could have gone with a more versatile option such as Jaden McDaniels or Xavier Tillman. 

The Jazz however did make up for this possible mistake when they drafted Elijah Hughes with the 39th pick in the NBA Draft. Hughes was fantastic in his time at Syracuse where he averaged 16.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals and shot 42.4% from the floor in two seasons with the Orange. The dynamic wing is a pure scorer who will provide some solid depth behind Ingles and Bogdanovic for the Jazz. Hughes is also 22 years old and a player who comes in almost as a veteran. He will not be a traditional rookie and is an immediate plug-and-play guy for the Jazz.

Utah’s draft night might have been a mistake in terms of what it could have been. There were no fireworks from the Jazz and did not really do anything to make themselves better, which is why they find themselves on this list. Drafting Udoka Azubuike to replace Tony Bradley is, at best, a lateral movement and they still have to figure out their bench. Donovan Mitchell can only carry this Utah Jazz team so far and unless they get him some help, the Jazz will be nothing more than a first-round exit in the Western Conference Playoffs, if they even make it there.