Jazz Have Intriguing Options With Second Round Pick
Nov 18, 2020, 1:44 PM | Updated: 1:57 pm
Kentucky Guard Immanuel Quickley is projected to be drafted in the second round (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz doubled their workload in Wednesday’s NBA Draft. Just hours before the draft, the Jazz announced they had acquired the 38th overall pick from the New York Knicks as well as the 27th pick in the first round in exchange for the 23rd pick and the rights to Ante Tomic.
While higher picks traditionally have better odds of panning out, the Jazz were wise to add an additional pick, especially so early in the second round of this draft. Front offices typically separate a draft class into tiers to get a better understanding of player groupings and where they may get drafted in the draft.
Based on the variety of projections most mock drafts offer this cycle, the top tier in the draft is three players deep. The second tier runs from picks four through nine, and the third tier runs from picks 10 through 17.
The @UtahJazz have traded the 23rd pick in the NBA Draft and the rights to Ante Tomic to the New York Knicks for the 27th and the 38th pick. #TakeNote https://t.co/PgEyYN6Ouj
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 18, 2020
From picks 18 through 40, most teams’ draft boards likely contain the same players but a wide variation on how they rank those individuals. A player the Jazz have ranked as the 25th best player on the draft may find themselves ranked in the late 30s for another team.
While KSL Sports has provided 25 breakdowns on players projected to be selected between the mid-first round to the mid-second round (links provided at the bottom), here are a few additional options the Jazz could explore with the 38th pick.
Jazz Second Round Options:
Payton Pritchard: 6’2 190 lbs Guard – SR – Oregon
20.5 points, 4.3 rebounds 5.1 assists, 46% FG/41% 3p/82% FT
Broke down why Oregon PG Payton Pritchard could have a Fred VanVleet type of impact at the NBA level. pic.twitter.com/M2A29kEVRu
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) November 18, 2020
Pros:
Payton Pritchard is one of the most accomplished players in the draft as a consensus All-American, the PAC-12 Player of the Year, PAC-12 Conference Tournament MVP, and two-time All-Conference member. The four year Oregon guard played on some of the best teams in Ducks history and was a catalyst for their success.
Pritchard is a truly deadly shooter with plus-NBA range, easily capable of stepping out to 35 feet and knocking down open threes. He’s also a skilled ball handler with above-average strength who bullies his way into the paint for finishes near the rim.
Cons:
Despite a high motor, he lacks tremendous length and athleticism to be a high-level defender in the NBA. His overall lack of size (though he doesn’t necessarily play small) will limit his defensive versatility. Pritchard plays mostly below the rim and lacks the explosion some of the other higher-scoring guards in the NBA possess.
At nearly 23 years old, he doesn’t have the upside as some guards in the draft, but he’s got an NBA skillset and would be a strong option early in the second round. There are rumors that he has a promise in the first round.
Immanuel Quickley: 6’3 188 lbs Guard – SO – Kentucky
16.1 points, 4.2 rebounds 1.9 assists, 41% FG/42% 3p/92% FT
Great Saturday morning film session with SEC Player of the Year and Kentucky standout Immanuel Quickley. One of the best shooters in the draft with a high IQ and strong compete level. Understands who he is as a player & knows how to add value in a variety of different situations. pic.twitter.com/f8VBIosOmt
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) May 2, 2020
Pros:
Immanuel Quickley got overshadowed in Kentucky’s backcourt by freshman Tyrese Maxey who will likely hear his name called in the middle of the first round but had an incredibly productive sophomore season at Kentucky.
The high scoring guard is an extremely efficient shooter that projects to have NBA range and could see his game expand with added space. Neither Maxey nor fellow Wildcats guard Ashton Hagans shot above 30 percent from the three-point line in college which allowed teams to stay more closely attached to Quickley on the perimeter.
With a 6’10 wingspan, Quickley also projects as an adequate defender at the NBA level who should be able to match up with guards in both backcourt positions.
Cons:
Quickley’s playmaking is still a work in progress after averaging just 1.9 assists per game. He wasn’t asked to do much passing with both Maxey and Hagans handling point guard duties, but he could stand to improve it to unlock his full potential.
The Kentucky guard has a slight frame despite his strong length for the guard position. He won’t be able to switch on to wings at the NBA level which limits his defensive versatility.
Overall he’s a nice prospect and could be a good option for the Jazz as a microwave scorer if they fear losing Jordan Clarkson this offseason or next.
Vernon Carey: 6’10 270 lbs Center – FR – Duke
17.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1 assist, 57% FG/38% 3p/67% FT
Vernon Carey is one of only 5 players since 2000 to average at least 28 PTS and 14 REBS per 40 minutes. Breaking down what made him so productive at the collegiate level and what he can continue fine-tuning to fit in today’s NBA. pic.twitter.com/hb6yIN3cbz
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) September 30, 2020
Pros:
Vernon Carey was extremely productive during his freshman season at Duke, nearly averaging a double-double against high-level competition in the ACC.
Carey has legitimate NBA size at 6’10 and 270 lbs and the strength to back it up. He isn’t afraid to get down low and mix it up with other bigs. Because of his large frame, he’s a good rebounder, including on the offensive glass where he snared 2.7 boards per game.
He’s surprisingly explosive for his size easily finishing above the rim in traffic and shows signs as a strong second leaper.
Carey showed nice shooting touch at Duke knocking down 38 percent of his three-point attempts albeit on a small sample size.
Cons:
Carey will have significant work to put into this body to flourish in the NBA. It’s rare to find players over 250 lbs in today’s league and he’ll have to find a way to drop that weight while maintaining the strength to operate down low.
Despite having talented players around him at Duke, he was a bit of a black hole once he touched the ball. He’ll have to do a better job of finding scorers around him in the NBA.
Furthermore, Carey’s 67 percent free-throw success rate adds uncertainty to his 38 percent three-point shooting. It’s uncommon to find good three-point shooters who can’t hit free-throws. 10 years ago Carey would have been a lock as a lottery pick but the league has moved away from bruising big men.
Killian Tillie: 6’10 220 lbs Big – SR – Gonzaga
13.6 points, 5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 53% FG/40% 3p/72% FT
Great ESPN Film Session with 6-10 Gonzaga forward and draft sleeper Killian Tillie. We talked about Tillie’s experience playing with NBA bigs like Brandon Clarke-Rui Hachimura-Zach Collins at Gonzaga, his fit in the modern NBA, his volleyball background, and much more. pic.twitter.com/JCQrge8WGt
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) July 31, 2020
Pros:
Killian Tillie has an easily projectable skillset in the NBA as a pick and pop big who shoots extremely well from the three-point line. The Gonzaga senior was consistently one of the best players on one of the best teams in college throughout his college career.
At 6’10 with a quick release on three-point shots, Tillie is a major threat to flare out off the screen and punish teams who leave him alone.
Though he averaged just 1.9 assists per game as a senior, he shows a good feel for the game both operating from the perimeter and in the post. Additionally, he’s a solid defender on the ball and can move his feet to stick with quicker bigs.
Cons:
Tillie should have been a lottery pick this year but missed significant games during his college career due to a variety of injuries to his knees and feet. Big guys with issues staying healthy are enormous red flags regardless of how talented they are.
The Gonzaga senior struggles against stronger players and will rely more on his finesse game than brute strength in the NBA. That’s not a huge problem in today’s league, but he shouldn’t be counted on as a rebounder at the next level.
Grant Riller: 6’3 190 lbs Guard – SR – Charleston
21.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 49% FG/36% 3p/82% FT
Really enjoyed breaking down Grant Riller's film with him this afternoon. One of the most talented shot creators in the draft. Was the only player in the country to average 21-5-4 on at least 50% from 2 & 35% from 3. Could be the next mid-major guard to make a splash in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/mPXdnSaMDl
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) April 20, 2020
Pros:
Grant Riller is one of the most productive guards in college averaging better than 20 points per game during his final two seasons at Charleston.
The senior guard is an excellent scoring threat off the dribble who has a knack for getting to the rim or hitting impressive pull-ups jump shots off the dribble.
His three-point shooting left something to be desired, but he still knocked down a healthy 36 percent on more than four attempts per game.
Riller is lightning quick with the ball in his hands and can put a lot of pressure on defenses in the half-court.
Cons:
Though his 3.9 assist per game average isn’t awful, he doesn’t project as a strong point guard in the NBA. Riller is more of a scorer than a passer.
While he dominated at the college level, he did so against lesser competition in the CAA so his adjustment to the NBA might be a bigger leap than most, even after playing four years of college.
Riller was an uninterested defender at Charleston, some of that may have had to do with the fact that he had to carry such a big load offensively, but he’ll struggle against NBA guards if he puts in the same effort.
Additional Prospect Breakdowns:
