Three Options for the Utah Jazz with the #12 Pick

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Last year, the Utah Jazz were predicted to be a 20-30 win team and receive a top five pick in this year’s NBA draft, but they had other plans. They finished with a 38 win season and saw signs of development in many of their young players.

Rudy Gobert shined as a shutdown rim protector after the departure of Enes Kanter to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dante Exum showed that he could be a lockdown perimeter defender and both Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors proved that they can be leaders for the Jazz on both sides of the ball for years to come.

While looking at the current roster, there is no true position of need for the Jazz. However, they do need a consistent perimeter shooter, as players like Trey Burke and Rodney Hood, who are very trigger-happy from deep, failed to hit shots at times. With that being said, let’s take a look at three potential fits for the Jazz with the 12th overall pick.

1. Frank Kaminsky, PF/C, University of Wisconsin

Kaminsky could add depth to a Jazz front court that consists of Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert. Kaminsky could also spread out the Utah offense with his three point shooting, a skill that neither Favors or Gobert brings out on the court. He could be the consistent perimeter shooting threat that the Jazz have needed.

2. Devin Booker, SG, University of Kentucky

While many mock drafts have Devin Booker going to the Charlotte Hornets at the ninth overall pick, the Hornets might want to go in another direction and Booker could fall a few spots, where the Jazz could scoop him up. The shooting guard was a very consistent shooter for Kentucky, and with many people wondering if Alec Burks is the long-term answer for the Jazz at the two guard, Booker could be an ideal fit for the Jazz.

3. Trey Lyles, SF/PF, University of Kentucky

Staying in Lexington, Lyles is one of the more underrated players in the draft. While he isn’t much of a perimeter threat, he could be a great rebounder and defender in the NBA. I can see him being a player who is very similar to the Atlanta Hawks’ forward DeMarre Carroll. While Lyles is taller than Carroll (Lyles is 6’10”, Carroll is 6’8″), he could prove to be a very scrappy player who can shut down opposing forwards on defense. He would be a great defender of the bench for the Jazz.