Josh Richardson
After a down year with the Dallas Mavericks, the 2021-22 campaign has been a bounce-back season for Josh Richardson with the Boston Celtics. He was essentially fazed out of the Mavs’ playoff rotation during last year’s NBA playoffs, but he’s helped his trade value since.
Richardson is averaging 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while shooting 45.7% from the floor and 41.1% from beyond the arc this season. He finished each of his prior two seasons below the 35% threshold in the perimeter shooting department.
The Utah Jazz could use a player that can do a little bit more than just catch-and-shoot when it comes to filling out the supporting cast alongside Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Richardson checks a few of those boxes.
When the three-ball is falling for Richardson, what makes him more intriguing than the run-of-the-mill ‘3-and-D’ player is his ability to convert on one/two dribble pull-ups in mid-range. Teams will run a spot-up shooter off-the-line, rear-view contest, or close to their side to deter that initial catch-and-shoot look, having a counter is essential.
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Richardson is not going to bring a lock-down level of on-ball defense, but he has the quickness to handle guards while still being able to check wings. He’d be a helpful complementary talent for the Jazz—assuming his three-point shooting doesn’t fall off a cliff.
