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The Utah Jazz saw their promising 2020-21 season come to a disappointing end in the second round of the NBA playoffs thanks to the Los Angeles Clippers. Utah certainly had title aspirations after they finished the regular season with the best record in the league. Unfortunately, they blew a massive opportunity to advance to the Western Conference Finals as the Clippers didn't have superstar forward Kawhi Leonard for Games 5 and 6, which Utah lost.
Utah will definitely use this offseason to refine their roster as they look to bounce back from another bitter playoff exit. They will certainly look to add depth, either through free agency or finding some hidden talent at the 2021 NBA draft. Finishing atop the league standings, the Jazz hold the No. 30 pick and they will certainly need to scout diligently to find those late round sleepers. With that, here are a couple of options the Utah Jazz can select with the 30th overall selection.
1. Ayo Dosunmu
Kevin O'Conner of The Ringer projects Ayo Dosunmu to fall to the Jazz in the upcoming NBA draft. Utah should prioritize re-signing veteran point guard Mike Conley this offseason. Still, even if they do retain Conley, they will need to address their depth at the guard position. If Dosunmu is available for them at no. 30, the Jazz should pounce on the opportunity to draft the 21-year old.
Dosunmu has the potential to be a two-way player eventually down the line. In addition, playing three years at Illinois, he should be more NBA-ready than most one-and-done prospects in this draft. At 6-foot-4, Dosunmu also has good size to play both guard positions. Though he was the primary playmaker in college, he showed that he is more than capable of playing off-ball as well.
Dosunmu is dynamic in the open floor and is able to put pressure on the defense by pushing the ball in transition. The Chicago-native also showcased great ability to play in the pick-and-roll, which is one of the most utilized plays at the next level. He isn't afraid to attack the basket and also has a steady pull-up mid-range jumper that could translate well in the NBA.
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The Junior standout also showed great playmaking ability, as well as a good feel in making the right reads depending on the defense in front of him. In addition, he also showed promise on the other end of the floor as a tough on-ball defender.
2. Miles McBride
Another point guard that the Jazz can take at the end of the first round is West Virginia standout Miles McBride. Previously projected to be a mid-2nd round pick, McBride moved into becoming a potential late first rounder due to his impressive showing at the draft combine. ESPN's Jonathan Givony projects him to go to Utah at No. 30.
McBride's calling card in college was his lockdown on-ball defense. He has tremendous feet that allow him to stay in front of his man and puts on great pressure to disrupt ball handlers. McBride also showed a knack for forcing players into jumpers by denying the lane to the rim. And when he does, he is still able to make a good contest to force his man into a tough shot.
McBride also showed upside as a multi-level scorer. While the sophomore can create his own shot, he was also an effective off-ball scorer with an efficient catch-and-shoot percentage. He impressed scouts with his 3-point stroke during the draft combine, which certainly helped the recent bump in his draft stock. He'd be a welcome sight off the bench for the Jazz.
