Predicting Who Starts at Shooting Guard for Jazz

The Utah Jazz are approaching the one-month mark of their season opener versus the Sacramento Kings on October 25. Despite the regular season being just around the corner, it’s still unclear what Utah’s starting backcourt will look like on opening night.

Let’s examine which players will likely start at the shooting guard position as we inch closer to the season opener.

Jordan Clarkson: 60%

Clarkson is the favorite to start at the two this season, but it’s not a foregone conclusion. Utah re-signed the former Sixth Man of the Year to a three-year deal worth 55 million dollars this offseason. Franchises don’t give those types of contracts to players who aren’t projected to get starter minutes.

That said, Clarkson could still get his minutes as Utah’s primary scorer coming off the bench. Clarkson averaged 27 minutes a game in his last two years as a sixth man, and duplicating those numbers would justify his contract.

However, Utah’s front office is high on its most tenured player. Considering Utah's current depth at the guard position, it would have been easy to let Clarkson walk, but that wasn’t the case. The most likely scenario is for Clarkson to be the starting two guard to begin the season.

Ochai Agbaji: 30%

Agbaji was one of three Utah players rumored to be off-limits at last year's trade deadline, with the other two being Walker Kessler and Lauri Markkanen. That shouldn’t be taken lightly when accessing Ajbaji’s role moving forward.

Utah could start Clarkson at one, clearing a path for Agbaji to start on opening night. The former lottery pick has the length (6-foot-10 wingspan) and defensive upside that Utah will want in the starting lineup. If Agbaji has a strong training camp, pairing him with Clarkson as the starter is within the realm of possibility.

Collin Sexton: 10%

If Sexton can crack the starting lineup, it will most likely be at the point guard spot, but it’s still plausible that he can begin the game at the two. In this scenario, the Jazz could choose to go with Talen Horton-Tucker or Kris Dunn at the one while moving Clarkson to his old sixth-man role.

Sexton has some defensive liabilities that make this less likely, but it’s worth considering if “THT” or Dunn emerges as the starter. Pairing Clarkson and Sexton together is the least likely scenario, with one of the players being needed as an offensive juggernaut coming off the bench.

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