Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn seems up courtroom as Utah and Denver play at Vivint Area in Salt Lake Metropolis on Saturday, April 8, 2023. The No. 5 general choose within the 2016 NBA draft, Dunn made probably the most of his time with the Jazz this season. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
Utah Jazz ahead Luka Samanic passes the ball as Utah and Denver play at Vivint Area in Salt Lake Metropolis on Saturday, April 8, 2023. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
Editor’s observe: Third in a sequence evaluating and grading each participant that was on the Jazz’s last 2022-23 roster.
The Utah Jazz experimented slightly by the top of the 2022-23 season with the remaining roster spots that they had open by attempting out guys on 10-day contracts.
When all was stated and carried out, they ended up changing two of these gamers — Kris Dunn and Luka Samanic — to common contracts via the top of the season, and each are nonguaranteed offers for subsequent season, which can enable them to compete for a roster spot when coaching camp begins in September.
Jazz coach Will Hardy has expressed his want for the Jazz to be a workforce that doesn’t decide gamers too early and is keen to offer them a second likelihood. There’s a wonderful line with a philosophy like that, however within the instances of Dunn and Samanic, it’s simple to grasp why it’s a helpful strategy to have.
In the event you’re the workforce that's keen to place within the time to shine and help a participant, you possibly can find yourself being the workforce discovering a diamond within the tough.
Kris Dunn — Grade: A
It’s onerous to think about Dunn having had a greater outing than he did with the Jazz this season. He got here in hungry to show that he was worthy of an NBA deal and did completely the whole lot that was requested of him whereas exceeding any expectations which may have been held both internally or from those that had seen him play earlier than.
Dunn was nearing the opportunity of disappearing into basketball obscurity. After being the No. 5 general choose in 2016, he was out of the league, taking part in with the G League’s Capital Metropolis Go-Go and simply hoping to get one other NBA alternative.
There are two primary causes that Dunn ended up in that place: accidents and reservations about his offensive limitations. Although Dunn has all the time been thought of an elite defender, particularly on the ball, he wasn’t a dependable shooter and he wasn’t the form of creator that an NBA level guard must be.
Quick ahead to the 2022-23 season — Dunn performed 20 video games with Capital Metropolis earlier than being referred to as as much as the Jazz, the place he performed in 22 video games. Whereas 20 video games may not look like lots, 42 video games of mixed information is only a hair over half an NBA season, and that’s a fairly substantial pattern dimension.
Dunn shot the lights out final season, and whereas he was with the Jazz he confirmed persistence and knowledge with the ball in his palms. He displayed improved ending, highlighted his ball dealing with abilities, confirmed a willingness to contain the workforce, and looked for the fitting motion off reads and screens. And did I point out the capturing?
With the Jazz, Dunn completed the 12 months capturing 53.7% general, 47.2% from 3-point vary, and did so whereas averaging 13.2 factors, 5.6 assists and simply 1.6 turnovers per sport.
He instantly impressed the Jazz teaching employees and entrance workplace and had many inside the group questioning how on the planet he hadn’t been picked up by one other workforce.
There’s little question that Dunn deserves a excessive grade for the season and I’d be stunned if the Jazz don’t take a flier on him and assure his deal for subsequent season to see if his enchancment is sustainable.
Luka Samanic — Grade: B
As soon as there was a participant who was drafted within the first spherical after which fizzled after just a few years solely to search out that his dream of taking part in within the NBA was on the verge of being taken away. Moderately than take provides to play abroad, he determined to play within the G League and hoped that an NBA workforce would see his starvation, his fireplace, and his understanding of the issues he wanted to enhance.
Sound acquainted?
Dunn wasn’t the one participant who acquired a second likelihood with the Jazz. Samanic was on an extremely comparable path earlier than his call-up from the Maine Celtics this season.
Samanic was picked nineteenth general in 2019 by the San Antonio Spurs, however they finally waived him. That leads many individuals to leap to the conclusion that if Gregg Popovich and the Spurs didn’t suppose Samanic had what it takes, then he in all probability isn’t well worth the time.
However, I requested Popovich about this and he stated that’s a false narrative. He got here again with Danny Inexperienced for instance, whom the Spurs waived after which signed after which assigned to the G League a number of instances. He later received a title with the Spurs and has had a 13-year NBA profession.
Pop’s level is that some gamers don’t determine it out straight away and they should face having all of it taken away from them.
It appears that evidently the most important shift for Samanic has been his maturity. He echoes the sentiment that he didn’t perceive the work ethic and the dedication and the sacrifice that was mandatory to keep up an NBA profession and that him being waived was a blessing in disguise.
On the courtroom, Samanic is an extremely intriguing prospect, who remains to be simply 23 years outdated with a ton of upside. Earlier this 12 months Hardy detailed the significance of getting a participant like Kelly Olynyk, who provides dimension and a variety of abilities. Connective tissue, do-it-all, jack-of-all-trades gamers are mandatory for each workforce and that’s what Samanic’s potential ceiling is.
He confirmed some athleticism and a few spectacular passing and rebounding that I don’t suppose many individuals anticipated from him, and he confirmed that he may very well be a great backup 4 with room to develop. Not a nasty solution to finish the season.
Utah Jazz ahead Luka Samanic passes the ball as Utah and Denver play at Vivint Area in Salt Lake Metropolis on Saturday, April 8, 2023.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information