2023 NBA Draft Team Recap: Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz were perhaps the busiest team during the first round on draft night with three picks in the first 28 selections.
At No. 9 overall they brought in a true 3-and-D forward out of Central Florida, Taylor Hendricks. He may not have played for a program that historically produces one-and-done talent but he was a top 50 recruit in the 2022 class that had an incredible freshman season.
The 6-foot-9 Florida native shot just under 40% from behind the 3-point line on four-and-a-half attempts while also blocking 1.7 shot attempts per game. Hendricks seems to be an immediate factor on the defensive end of the court and with his floor spacing but it will be worth monitoring his development with his off the dribble game and all around scoring.
His path to big minutes will also be interesting to monitor with Lauri Markannen - who did see 20% of his minutes at SF according to basketball reference - and the recently acquired John Collins. You also have Kelly Olynyk on the roster with an expiring contract and Hendricks can play minutes at the center position but many of those minutes will be eaten up by 2022 pick, Walker Kessler.
We also have yet to see any NBA action from Hendricks as he missed all NBA Summer League action with a hamstring injury.
This was also the case for fellow rookie and No. 28 overall pick, Brice Sensabaugh. Sensabaugh had knee surgery in March that recovery has kept him out as well. The 6-foot-6 wing was one of the best shooters and bucket getters in college basketball this past season. He averaged over 16 points per game on impressive shooting splits of 48-41-83.
Questions around the Ohio State freshman come from his play on the opposite end of the court and his overall health but should he keep those things in check he could provide that instant offense from the wing off the bench for this Jazz team moving forward.
The only one of the three first round picks that we have seen in the NBA Summer League is former Baylor guard, Keyonte George. He had an impressive, albeit up and down, freshman season with the Bears where he played alongside two other very talented and veteran guards.
After an inefficient three games at the Salt Lake Summer League - similar to his shooting splits in college - the 6-foot-4 guard found his footing in Las Vegas. In those three games he has averaged over 20 points per game while shooting over 50% from the field and 44% from the 3-point line on nine attempts per game.
At his height you would like to see George be able to at least play on the ball at times and create for his teammates which was on display in all six of his games this summer averaging over five assists per game.
While the Jazz do have guards Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton locked up for three more years there are plenty of developmental minutes for George whether in the starting lineup or as the first guard off the bench. Utah was one of the best storylines last season after trading away the cornerstones of their franchise and building off of that with more influx of young talent will be exciting to watch in the 2023-2024 season.
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