Denver Nuggets ahead Zeke Nnaji (22) battles Utah Jazz middle Udoka Azubuike (20) and Utah Jazz ahead Juan Toscano-Anderson (95) as he goes for a shot as Utah and Denver play at Vivint Enviornment in Salt Lake Metropolis on Saturday, April 8, 2023. Jazz received 108-104. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
Editor’s observe: Second in a sequence evaluating and grading each participant that was on the Jazz’s remaining 2022-23 roster.
The Utah Jazz solely had two gamers who have been on expiring contracts this 12 months, and though they aren’t more likely to be supplied one other deal by the Jazz, it’s value taking a look at how they carried out this season.
Juan Toscano-Anderson — Grade: C-
In 22 video games with the Jazz, Juan Toscano-Anderson underwhelmed. After a few stable seasons with the Golden State Warriors as they have been working by way of injury-plagued seasons, Toscano-Anderson appeared like a gritty, do-it-all type of man who may additionally shoot fairly reliably.
However, after the Warriors’ most important stars returned to the lineup and Toscano-Anderson’s position diminished, so did his effectivity.
His story has been one that's fairly acquainted within the NBA — a lesser position that results in much less eye-popping outcomes after which a fair lesser position on the subsequent crew.
As a rule, these gamers find yourself being forgotten and misplaced on the ends of benches except they can actually present their value.
Sadly for Toscano-Anderson, he by no means actually popped in Utah. He had a few good video games and some good flashes, however he averaged simply 3.4 factors in 15.2 minutes per recreation, capturing 40.3% total and 17.4% from 3-point vary.
To his credit score, Toscano-Anderson obtained reward from head coach Will Hardy and the remainder of the teaching employees for his perspective, his assist with youthful gamers, his communication and competitiveness.
However when gamers are being praised for these issues and never their on-court expertise and ability, that’s additionally value noting.
It’s completely doable that Toscano-Anderson is a rhythm participant who wants extra time on the courtroom to essentially really feel comfy and to shine in a job, however that’s not what he had in Utah and his time on the courtroom with the Jazz was just a little disappointing.
Udoka Azubuike — Grade: F
First, I feel it’s vital to notice that the Jazz get an F for drafting Udoka Azubuike. That could be a separate grade and has nothing to do with how he carried out, and we must always not maintain the Jazz’s poor selections in opposition to him.
It’s additionally vital to say that some freak accidents and unlucky timing usually are not causes to not like a participant, to an extent.
In three years, Azubuike has performed in simply 68 NBA video games. He had one harm after one other, after which when he was wholesome he was both behind the likes of Rudy Gobert and Hassan Whiteside or Walker Kessler and Kelly Olynyk.
However, even when Azubuike was capable of get on the courtroom, he was all too typically both not conditioned accurately or didn’t know the place he was purported to be.
After three years, you'd desire a participant to not should be directed round by teammates and be out of place so typically.
Even so, essentially the most obtrusive drawback with Azubuike was simply his ability stage relative to different alternative stage gamers.
That challenge was made clear and apparent this season when Damian Jones joined the crew on the commerce deadline.
In Jones’ first seven minutes of motion on the courtroom, it was clear that he deserved backup middle minutes over Azubuike.
Azubuike doesn't get this grade due to the Jazz’s option to draft him, and he doesn't get this grade due to his harm historical past.
He will get this grade as a result of he hasn’t confirmed that he deserves greater than an expiring deal.