Jazz Saw ‘Some Big Kids With Some Length’ At Pre-Draft Workouts

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz held one of the most important pre-draft workouts this summer with multiple players projected to be draft around No. 23, where the Jazz will pick in the upcoming NBA Draft on June 20.

“I think it was a day with a lot of versatility,” said Utah Jazz Vice President of Player Personnel Walt Perrin. “We had some big kids with some length. They were able to get away from their system and showcase some ability to step away from the basket and shoot the ball. We had some guards that showed ability to knock down shots and run an offense.”

The Jazz brought in 12 players, while workout out six players at a time through two sessions.

The first session featured Georgia forward Nic Claxton, Auburn guard Jared Harper, Florida State big man Mfiondu Kabengele, Shamorie Ponds from St. John’s, LSU forward Naz Reid and Grant Williams from Tennessee.

During the second session, the Jazz worked out Michigan wing Ignas Brazdeikis, Purdue guard Carsen Edwards, Louis King from Oregon, KZ Okpala from Stanford, Belmont wing Dylan Windler and Justin Wright-Foreman from Hofstra.

“I thought it was a good opportunity for us to get quite a few good players hopefully around our draft range that we can take a look at,” Perrin mentioned.

📹| “I think we were pretty fortunate to get the number of players that we had in here today with these two workouts… I think it was a day where we had a lot of versatility in terms of the players here."

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— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) May 26, 2019

Grant Williams

Williams averaged 18.8 points per game in his third season at Tennessee. He shot 56 percent from the field, including 32 percent from downtown. Since his junior season in college, Perrin believes that his range has improved.

“Grant Williams has extended his range since college,” Perrin said.

Williams is projected to be drafted as early as the No. 22 pick to No. 25 and as late as an early second round pick in most mock drafts.

Mfiondu Kabengele

The Florida State product averaged 13.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game after his sophomore season with the Seminoles. The 6-foot-10 big man shot 50 percent from the field and 36 percent from the three-point line.

“Fee [Mfiondu Kabengele] shot the ball pretty well, which we never really got a chance to see at Florida State,” Perrin stated.

In most mock drafts, Kabengele is predicted to go as early as the No. 25 pick or an early second round selection.

Naz Reid

Reid finished his freshman season with LSU, averaging 13.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 46 percent from the field and 33 percent from downtown.

“Naz has played on the perimeter and have seen that at LSU,” said Perrin.

He is projected to go late in the first round or early in the second round.

Nic Claxton

The sophomore averaged 13 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game with Georgia. He shot 46 percent from the field, but just 28 percent from the three-point line.

“Nic [Claxton] is a young colt who has played both inside and outside at Georgia, so we were able to see some of that and be able to do some more stuff on the perimeter,” Perrin said.

Claxton is predicted to go in the second round or return to school for his junior season.

Carsen Edwards

Edwards had a fantastic junior season at Purdue, averaging 24.3 points per game, while shooting 39 percent from the field and 35 percent from downtown.

“We saw a little bit a Purdue of what he [Carsen Edwards] can do in terms of ball handling and play making,” Perrin said.

He is projected to go as high as No. 27 or as late as No. 39.

KZ Okpala

Okpala had a good season for Stanford, ending the season with a 16.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1 steal per game average after his sophomore season. He shot 46 percent from the field and 36 percent from the perimeter.

“I think that is one of the areas that KZ is going to have to improve on,” Perrin said. “He shot it okay, not great today. His game is more slashing, penetrating and has to learn to be more comfortable with his jumpshot. He knocked down a few but was also a little hesitant to shoot.”

NBADraft.net has Okpala going at No. 16, while the rest of the mock drafts have him going late in the first or early in the second round.