24. Utah Jazz – Isaiah Stewart, C, Washington
The Utah Jazz has had a tumultuous last few months – and that’s not counting their on-the-court performance. With the uncertainty that revolves around Rudy Gobert and his impending free agency, expect Utah to try and add depth to their frontcourt. Isaiah Stewart is coming off a freshman season in which he averaged 17 points and nine rebounds per game at Washington.
There’s plenty to like about Steward, but with the NBA quickly moving away from the big man it’s easy to see why he’s a late-round pick. Still, he would add insurance to Utah’s frontcourt in the event that things fall through on the Gobert front.
He might not be the player that Gobert is, but he’s the type of player that could grow into a role and excel at a few years down the line. The Jazz isn’t expecting a savior with this pick – and that’s probably the best frame of mind at this point in the draft.