3 Guards the Jazz should consider drafting at numbers 29 and 32

Much of the excitement surrounding the Utah Jazz throughout the 2024 NBA Draft cycle has focused on what would happen to their number ten overall pick, but we can’t fail to forget that this team has the chance to land major additions with two of their valuable subsequent selections.

Utah holds the 29th and 32nd overall picks in the 2024 draft, where they will have several compelling options on the board that may end up becoming diamonds in the rough within a few years.

Season after season, we see players come out of the lottery burst onto the scene in their rookie year, which quickly turns into lasting and impactful NBA careers. By making two darts in the top 32, it gives the Jazz a great opportunity to accelerate this rebuilding process with the right choices.

The guard position is one that Utah could look at at this stage of the draft, where many names present good reason to be on the Jazz’s radar when they hit the clock in two weeks.

With that, here are three guards the Jazz should watch in the late first and early second rounds of this year’s NBA Draft:

ESPN prospect ranking: 19

It might be a bit of wishful thinking to expect George to be available as late as where the Jazz chose, but the Miami guard would be a home run selection if the opportunity presents itself.

The one area George shined in during his first year in college was his shooting ability – averaging 40.8 percent on three to four attempts per night. Combine that with his long 6-foot-8 frame and 6-foot-10 wingspan, and he can become a big, versatile option to play alongside Keyonte George in the backcourt.

He could benefit from some size, especially to help him on the defensive end, but his frame alone gives him enough optimism to develop on that side of the court. In the meantime, his consistency as a shooter and offensive generator can land him an interesting role in Utah and potentially become a future starter down the line.

ESPN prospect ranking: 26

Don’t let his physical exams fool you. Kolek can make an instant impact on an NBA team from day one and could fit in perfectly in Salt Lake City.

At 6-foot-2, with a wingspan of just under 6-foot-3, the Marquette guard’s measurements are a bit limited, but his skills as a passer and shooter could allow teams to give him a shot. interesting eye in the first round. . He shined as one of the best guards in college basketball last season, averaging 15.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 7.7 assists on a 49.6/38.8/ split. 85.1.

Since the Jazz were so poor in terms of game numbers, as well as being bottom ten in the league in three-point shooting percentage, Kolek can come into the fold to fix those holes from the first day and give Utah reliable and necessary depth. the rear area.

Generally, we’ve seen the Jazz value the strong physical tools of recently drafted prospects, but if raw talent and team are to rise above the rest of the field when they’re on the clock, Kolek is the main suspicious to see land. in Utah.

ESPN prospect ranking: 36

The Jazz struggled to have a primary point guard during their last campaign, so why not bring in one of the best young foreign leaders in Juan Nunez?

Nunez is a 6-foot-4 point guard who stands out as a young elite European passer, averaging 7.7 assists per 36 minutes during his most recent campaign. His playmaking ability also allows him to be an effective scorer and finisher at the rim, averaging 15.4 points per 36 and 47.0% on his field looks.

Even though Nunez has built a reputation as a powerful passer, he still has work to do in terms of effectiveness as a playmaker. His turnover numbers were much higher than you’d like, and For a Jazz team that currently ranks first in the league in turnovers, adding fuel to that fire may not be the wisest move.

If Utah can overcome his growing pains to become a much more efficient and impactful ball handler, securing his services this late in the draft would be a significant gain.

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