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Potential Players to Draft at #12

By Matt Payne, utahjazz.com

The NBA Draft Lottery was held in New York City on Tuesday night, and (to the surprise of nobody) the Utah Jazz wound up with the No. 12 pick. Entering the lottery, the Jazz were entrenched in that slot with a slim 0.7 percent chance of moving up.

Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey was on hand to represent the franchise at the lottery.

“There was no disappointment—we knew we had long odds,” Lindsey said afterward. “As we started to do deeper dives and diligence on the players, we feel we can get well past the 12 players. We think we have a great asset for the organization.”

So, which player will the “asset” of the No. 12 pick turn into? It’s obviously early in the process, but here’s a group of players—as noted by ESPN.com draft insider Chad Ford—who might be available on June 25 once the Jazz are on the clock.

According to Ford: “The Jazz are one of the few teams that can just draft whoever falls to them. They have young players they really like at all five positions. So, the next-highest-rated guy on their board should be able to come in and help right away in a backup role. Trey Lyles has a high basketball IQ, good size for his position and versatility. He's not the most explosive athlete in the world, but his solid all-around game makes him a good fit in Utah. Frank Kaminsky, Sam Dekker and Kevon Looney are other players who will get serious looks here by the Jazz.”

Here’s a brief profile of the four players Ford mentioned—plus one other who could be an intriguing option. 

Trey Lyles, F, Kentucky

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Raw but full of potential, Lyles has top-notch size (he’s 6’-10” and 242 pounds with a 7’-2” wingspan and a 9’-0” standing reach) and has a solid inside-out game with range out the 3-point line. Scouts, though, say he lacks elite athleticism and will need to bulk up in the NBA.

Frank Kaminsky, F/C, Wisconsin

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A big man who can score inside and out (he’s got legit 3-point range) and handle like a guard, Kaminsky is advanced offensively but struggles on the defensive end. Another consideration is that he stayed in school through his senior year, and didn’t really break out until he was a junior.   

Sam Dekker, F, Wisconsin

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Dekker’s vast potential was only sporadically realized at Wisconsin. He’s an explosive athlete and, at 6’-9” and 219 pounds, he can play multiple positions. Dekker’s a solid ball-handler but doesn’t always play with confidence and has an inconsistent outside shot.

Kevon Looney, F, UCLA

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Looney’s considered a bit of a project—but he’s a player who could pay off huge if his offensive game develops. He has elite size (6’-9” with a 7’-4” wingspan and a 9’-2” standing reach) and brings above-average handle and court vision, along with an ability to play both forward spots. Besides polishing his offensive game, scouts say Looney will need to add strength.

R.J. Hunter, G, Georgia State

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Perhaps the best pure shooter in the draft, Hunter is lethal spotting up and also plays well in the pick-and-roll. He has a high basketball IQ and good size (6’-6” with a 6’-11” wingspan) but lacks elite athleticism.