As we enter the month of June, the NBA Draft is fast approaching and Utah Jazz The team will have to make a crucial decision at No. 10 overall. Even though they ended up losing not one, but two spots in the May lottery, this team still has a chance to add an impact player among those they choose.
Numerous media outlets have issued countless projections about how the Jazz might end up approaching their selection, the most recent being ESPN during their Two-round mock draft.
In their latest predictions, the Jazz ended up landing Serbian guard Nikola Topic with the 10th pick to bolster their backcourt, after earlier reports indicated Utah had potential intrigue in the international prospect.
“Utah is among the parties interested in Topic, with Dalton Knecht, Ron Holland and Ja’Kobe Walter among other prospects catching the Jazz’s attention at No. 10,” draft insider Jeremy Woo said. “Topic’s size, basketball IQ and playmaking abilities make him an interesting long-term player and a potential value pick if he ends up in the back half of the lottery.”
During the early stages of the scouting process, Topic was always a player who was expected to be selected in the top five. But, in this scenario, Utah capitalizes on some value by selecting him late in the top 10. The 18-year-old prospect has had some health issues that could ultimately affect his value, but he still has a chance to become one of the best players in the class.
Topic is an interesting prospect to evaluate because of his unique combination of size, playmaking, and driving ability. During his 2023-24 season in Serbia, he averaged 14.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists on a 49.8/30.6/87.8 ratio. Outside shooting is an area that will need some work, but if he can polish that aspect of his game, he could be a dangerous piece on the offensive side of the ball.
Seeing a talent like Topic fall to the 10th pick might be wishful thinking, but he could be a nice piece in the Jazz’s backcourt if he’s available. Utah lacked playmaking consistency throughout last season and could benefit from a little more backcourt depth in a summer that saw Talen Horton-Tucker and Kris Dunn become free agents.
There are a few weeks left until the official draft night, but the clock is slowly ticking down for the Jazz to make a decision. Keep Topic in mind as a prime candidate as we get closer to the highly anticipated June 26 date later this month.
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