The Utah Jazz are an American professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City. The Jazz compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league’s Western Conference Northwest Division. Since the 1991–92 season, the team has played its home games at the Delta Center. The franchise began play as an expansion team in the 1974–75 season as the New Orleans Jazz (as a tribute to New Orleans’ history of originating jazz music). The Jazz relocated from New Orleans to Salt Lake City on June 8, 1979. The Jazz were one of the least successful teams in the league in their early years, but they became one of the powerhouse teams of the 1990s, led by coach Jerry Sloan and the duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone. They reached the NBA Finals twice, in 1997 and 1998, but lost both times to the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan. The Jazz have won 11 division titles and two conference titles, but have never won an NBA championship.
History: The NBA draft is an annual event dating back to 1947 in which the teams from the NBA can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. Historically, the vast majority of players drafted are college players, but some international players and high school players have also been selected. The draft usually takes place near the end of June, during the NBA offseason. Since 1989, the draft has consisted of two rounds; this is much shorter than the entry drafts of the other major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, all of which run at least seven rounds. Sixty players are selected in each draft. The order of selection is determined by a combination of lottery, regular season record, and playoff performance. The team with the worst record in the previous season has the best chance to win the lottery and get the first pick, but it is not guaranteed. The lottery system was introduced in 1985 to prevent teams from deliberately losing games to get a higher draft position. The first overall pick is considered a prestigious honor and often goes to a player who is expected to have a great impact on the league.
The Utah Jazz had four picks in the 2023 NBA draft:
Round 1 No. 9: Taylor Hendricks (UCF) – A versatile forward who can play inside and outside, Hendricks averaged 16.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game as a freshman at UCF. He has good size (6’10″, 225 lbs), athleticism, and shooting touch for his position. He can stretch the floor with his three-point range (38.7%) and also attack the rim with his quickness and agility. He needs to improve his strength, defense, and decision-making, but he has a lot of potential as a modern big man.
Round 1No. 16: Keyonte George (Baylor) – A dynamic scoring guard who can create his own shot, George averaged 18.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game as a freshman at Baylor. He has a smooth stroke from beyond the arc (40.2%) and can also finish at the basket with his speed and explosiveness. He has good size (6’5″, 190 lbs) and length for his position and can play both on and off the ball. He needs to work on his defense, ball-handling, and shot selection, but he has a lot of upside as a microwave scorer.
Round 1No. 28: Brice Sensabaugh (Ohio State) – A sharpshooting wing who can space the floor, Sensabaugh averaged 14.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game as a freshman at Ohio State. He has a quick release and a high arc on his three-point shot (42.9%) and can also score off screens and cuts. He has decent size (6’6″, 210 lbs) and strength for his position and can hold his own on defense. He needs to improve his ball-handling, passing, and versatility, but he has a lot of value as a catch-and-shoot specialist.
The Utah Jazz have been one of the most successful teams in the NBA draft, finding talented players in various positions and rounds.
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Here are their last five top draft picks, along with their grades based on their performance and potential:
2023: Taylor Hendricks (No. 9) | Grade: A
The Jazz selected Hendricks, a versatile forward who can play inside and outside, with their first pick in the 2023 draft. Hendricks averaged 16.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game as a freshman at UCF. He has good size (6’10″, 225 lbs), athleticism, and shooting touch for his position. He can stretch the floor with his three-point range (38.7%) and also attack the rim with his quickness and agility. He needs to improve his strength, defense, and decision-making, but he has a lot of potential as a modern big man. He is expected to be a key contributor for the Jazz in the future.
2023: Keyonte George (No. 16) | Grade: A
The Jazz traded up to get George, a dynamic scoring guard who can create his own shot, with their second pick in the 2023 draft. George averaged 18.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game as a freshman at Baylor. He has a smooth stroke from beyond the arc (40.2%) and can also finish at the basket with his speed and explosiveness. He has good size (6’5″, 190 lbs) and length for his position and can play both on and off the ball. He needs to work on his defense, ball-handling, and shot selection, but he has a lot of upside as a microwave scorer. He is expected to be a valuable sixth man for the Jazz in the future.
2023: Brice Sensabaugh (No. 28) | Grade: A
The Jazz selected Sensabaugh, a sharpshooting wing who can space the floor, with their third pick in the 2023 draft. Sensabaugh averaged 14.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game as a freshman at Ohio State. He has a quick release and a high arc on his three-point shot (42.9%) and can also score off screens and cuts. He has decent size (6’6″, 210 lbs) and strength for his position and can hold his own on defense. He needs to improve his ball-handling, passing, and versatility, but he has a lot of value as a catch-and-shoot specialist. He is expected to be a reliable role player for the Jazz in the future.
2021: Santi Aldama (No. 30) | Grade: B
The Jazz selected Aldama, a skilled big man who can shoot and pass, with their first pick in the 2021 draft. However, they traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies on draft night. Aldama averaged 21.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game as a sophomore at Loyola (MD). He has good height (6’11″) and mobility for his position and can stretch the floor with his three-point range (36.8%). He also has good vision and passing skills for a big man. He needs to improve his strength, defense, and consistency, but he has a lot of potential as a stretch four or five. He has shown some flashes of brilliance with the Grizzlies, but he is still developing his game.
2020: Udoka Azubuike (No. 27) | Grade: C
The Jazz selected Azubuike, a dominant center who can rebound and block shots, with their first pick in the 2020 draft. Azubuike averaged 13.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game as a senior at Kansas. He has great size (7’0″, 270 lbs) and strength for his position and can overpower most opponents in the paint. He also has good athleticism and timing for his size and can protect the rim effectively. He needs to improve his shooting, free throw shooting (43.5%), and conditioning, but he has a lot of potential as a defensive anchor and lob threat. He has been limited by injuries and lack of playing time with the Jazz, but he has shown some signs of improvement in his second season.
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FAQs
Q: Who did the Utah Jazz draft in 2023?
A: The Utah Jazz drafted three players in the 2023 NBA draft: Taylor Hendricks, a 6’10″ forward from UCF, with the No. 9 pick; Keyonte George, a 6’4″ guard from Baylor, with the No. 16 pick; and Brice Sensabaugh, a 6’6″ wing from Ohio State, with the No. 28 pick.
Q: What are the strengths and weaknesses of Taylor Hendricks, the Jazz’s No. 9 pick?
A: Taylor Hendricks is a versatile and athletic forward who can play inside and outside. He averaged 18.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game as a sophomore at UCF, shooting 51.3% from the field and 37.8% from three. He is a good defender who can switch on multiple positions and protect the rim. He also has a high motor and a good work ethic. Some of his weaknesses are his lack of elite explosiveness, his inconsistent shooting mechanics, and his tendency to settle for jumpers instead of attacking the basket.
Q: How does Keyonte George fit with the Jazz’s backcourt?
A: Keyonte George is a dynamic scorer who can create his own shot and finish at the rim. He averaged 20.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game as a freshman at Baylor, shooting 45.6% from the field and 39.1% from three. He is also a solid defender who can pressure the ball and generate steals. He fits well with the Jazz’s backcourt, as he can play either on or off the ball, and complement Donovan Mitchell’s playmaking and shooting.
Q: What are the expectations for Brice Sensabaugh, the Jazz’s No. 28 pick?
A: Brice Sensabaugh is a smooth and skilled wing who can score from all three levels. He averaged 16.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game as a junior at Ohio State, shooting 48.7% from the field and 41.2% from three. He is also a smart and unselfish player who can make good decisions and move without the ball. He is expected to provide depth and spacing for the Jazz’s wing rotation, and potentially develop into a reliable role player.
Q: How do the Jazz’s draft picks affect their salary cap situation?
A: The Jazz’s draft picks will add about $9 million to their payroll for the 2023-24 season. This will put them slightly over the projected salary cap of $125 million, but well below the projected luxury tax threshold of $151 million. The Jazz will still have some flexibility to re-sign their own free agents or pursue other players in the market.
