I’m sure all of us are still intoxicated after the Jazz stole the show and acquired the second overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, despite the firm adamance of Wizards fans that the Jazz are miserable unless they move on from rookie Ace Bailey. What stands out, though, is that this is the only selection the Jazz hold in this year’s NBA Draft. The most favorable of Minnesota or Cleveland was traded away back in the February deadline. Darryn Peterson or AJ Dybantsa are going to make marvellous additions to the core in Utah, but how much are they willing to pay for a second rookie gamble as they reach for the brink of contention?
Though the Spurs didn’t trade for him on draft night, receiving the 14th pick from the Dejounte Murray blockbuster back in 2022, Carter Bryant has been impactful enough to log legitimate Playoff minutes in the Western Conference Finals. The 20th pick, sophomore Jaylon Tyson WAS a consistent starter for the Cavaliers until his shooting blunders during the Pistons series. I dare not mention the witchcraft OKC has when it comes to mid-first round scouting.
We saw last year the Jazz traded up for Walter Clayton Jr., unironically from the Wizards, in exchange for the No. 21 pick (Will Riley), the No. 43 pick (Jamir Watkins) and two future second-rounders. Although Clayton Jr’s Jazz tenure was neither impactful nor time-extensive, it did inevitably lead to the Jazz acquiring their star Jaren Jackson Jr.
It may not be a necessity for the Jazz to acquire young talent now at this point of the junction, but we learn to trust that if the Ainge family sees someone they like, they’re going to get them no matter the cost. I contribute by tossing a few potential gems I like that could fit this roster seamlessly:
Chris Cenac Jr.
Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr. (5) cheers during a second-round game in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament between Houston Cougars and Texas A&M Aggies at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Saturday March 21, 2026.
Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr. (5) cheers during a second-round game in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament between Houston Cougars and Texas A&M Aggies at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Saturday March 21, 2026.
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Bio: 6 ft, 10 in | 239 lbs | 19 yrs old | University of Houston
2025-26 regular season stats: 9.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.8 STL, 0.5 BLK, 48.5% FG, 33.3% 3PT
How often do you look back upon the 2023 summer, when Danny Ainge signed restricted free-agent Paul Reed, a move that would inevitably put the 76ers over the luxury tax after they matched? You think he still has a thing for Paul Reed archetypes? Chris Cenac entered this year’s combine with a 7’5” wingspan and a 9’0.5 standing reach. The Houston Cougar excels at mobility, rebounding, and finishing, and fits the criteria as a ‘modern NBA big’. He’s still raw and full of upside, but it’s hard not to notice his consistent energy on the court.
Though he remains more of a raw offensive project who struggles to create for himself, relying heavily on outside jumpers rather than using his size down-low. He frequently bites on pump-fakes and can be overtly aggressive on the perimeter, leading to reaching and picking up undisciplined fouls.
Once Jaren Jackson Jr or a hypothetical Walker Kessler contract becomes too high on the payroll, the Jazz need rookie contract defenders like Cenac. His tweener position opens many more small-ball opportunities for Will Hardy. He resembles a lot of Noah Clowney’s game, with a ceiling of an All-Defensive level talent that can space the floor on the other end.
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 23: Aday Mara #15 of the Michigan Wolverines looks on during the first half of a college basketball game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Crisler Arena on January 23, 2026 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 74-62. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 23: Aday Mara #15 of the Michigan Wolverines looks on during the first half of a college basketball game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Crisler Arena on January 23, 2026 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 74-62. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
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Bio: 7 ft, 3 in | 259 lbs | 21 yrs old | University of Michigan
2025-26 regular season stats: 12.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.4 STL, 2.6 BLK, 66.8% FG, 30.0% 3PT
It’s written in the unofficial basketball rulebook that you must have a giant on your roster if you have any hopes of contending. This burly 7-footer out of Spain has been the biggest riser in the draft class simply due to the fact that teams need a brave soldier to guard Victor Wembanyama. Mara utilizes his 7’3” height and 7’6” wingspan to stat pad rebounds and deter opponents from attacking the paint. He displays an impressive touch and flexibility to finish layups and hook shots over defenders.
Of course, the downgrades of being a colossal titan are Mara’s lack of defensive mobility — stiff hips and slower foot speed make him vulnerable in P&R switches and guarding quicker wings or stretch bigs. He struggles against heavy contact in his chest, limiting his post-scoring, which can lead to turnovers when highly pressured. He also struggles to stretch the floor efficiently enough, as well as hovering around a 55% to 60% inadequate percentage at the charity stripe.
The same as Cenac, the Jazz need reassurances at the big man position if they’re unable to re-sign both Kessler and Nurkic. Aday Mara, by far, becomes one of the tallest Jazzmen in history just behind Mark Eaton and Chuck Nevitt, already contributing to the new Jazz era of size and verticality. He offers a modern offensive skill set that doesn’t sacrifice size for Will Hardy’s preferred fluid, five-out system. Though if the mocks are true, the Jazz may need to pay a hefty price for one of the most prominent draft risers.
Isaiah Evans
Mar 27, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Isaiah Evans (3) dribbles the ball against the St. John’s Red Storm in the first half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Mar 27, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Isaiah Evans (3) dribbles the ball against the St. John’s Red Storm in the first half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Bio: 6 ft, 6 in | 186 lbs | 20 yrs old | Duke University
2025-26 regular season stats: 15.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.7 STL, 0.7 BLK, 43.3% FG, 36.1% 3PT
The idea of an ’X-factor’ is described as a player who determines a team’s ceiling and can mean the difference between an early exit and a championship. Maybe it’s Brice Sensabaugh, maybe it’s Svi Mykhailiuk — it’s always Svi — or maybe it’s a wiry 180-pound guard from Duke. I strongly advise Austin Ainge to glance in the direction of “Showtime Slim” Isaiah Evans, who can handle the ball, stretch the floor, and play with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. After grinding it out at Duke, he turned himself into a 6-foot-6 movement shooter who can blow a game wide open when he gets hot. For a Jazz squad that’s constantly looking to build up tall, versatile players, Evans feels like a really natural fit. His massive 6’9” wingspan gives him an elite defensive upside to smother passing lanes and deflect balls from the weak side.
What will stop Isaiah Evans from being a consensus top 20 pick is that the majority of his value comes from his upside. He weighs 186 pounds. It may work in college, but at his size, he might not be strong enough to compete with NBA athletes unless he puts a substantial amount of time in the weight room. It’s also noted that he possesses a loose, high-centered handle. It’ll make him prone to turning the ball over when navigating tight spaces or dribbling directly through heavy traffic.
Morez Johnson Jr.
Michigan head coach Dusty May speaks with Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21) in the first half of their Final Four game against Arizona at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
Michigan head coach Dusty May speaks with Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21) in the first half of their Final Four game against Arizona at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
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Bio: 6 ft, 10 in | 250 lbs | 20 yrs old | University of Michigan
2025-26 regular season stats: 13.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.7 STL, 1.1 BLK, 62.3% FG, 34.3% 3PT
If you watched any Jazz basketball in the past few years, you may know that defense may be a tad of an issue for this group. They finished 2024 and 2025 with the worst defensive rating in the league. This year, they ranked 29th. Of course, you have to factor in that they were missing Jaren Jackson Jr. and Walker Kessler, but this team must show a significant increase if they want to be perceived as a threat.
There’s no better defensive talent in the pool than NCAA champion Morez Johnson. He’s a physically imposing, high-motor tweener big with a strong defensive foundation with two-way upside. Offensively, Johnson shot an efficient 62.3% from the floor and 78.2% from the foul line. He knows his role is to play downhill in the paint, and not many can stop him on a transition at a rumbling 250 pounds. Rebounding is another strength; Johnson plays with enough hustle to physically impose his way on the glass.
What’ll limit his effectiveness is his near-to-none talent as a shooter. He only attempted 35 three-pointers in his sophomore season at a 34.3% clip. His jumper is neither quick nor smooth. The passing is also a fixer-upper — he had strides in reading passes at Michigan, but he frequently posted a negative assist-to-turnover ratio, making it difficult for an offense to flow with him on the field. On the other hand, he’s slightly undersized to be employed as a full-time big man.
Utah is no stranger to taking NCAA champions in the draft. In 2021, they selected Jared Butler in the second round; last year was Walter Clayton Jr. Athletic forward/centers like Daniel Gafford or Isaiah Stewart closely resemble Morez’s game. They also have an incredible surplus of 7-footers to deploy, along with an undersized player like Johnson. What they do need is players who can act as connective hubs without demanding heavy usage.
Dailyn Swain
PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: Dailyn Swain #3 of the Texas Longhorns walks across the court against the BYU Cougars during the first half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: Dailyn Swain #3 of the Texas Longhorns walks across the court against the BYU Cougars during the first half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
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Bio: 6 ft, 7 in | 211 lbs | 20 yrs old | University of Texas
2025-26 regular season stats: 17.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.6 STL, 0.3 BLK, 54.2% FG, 34.4% 3PT
The Texas wing saw a third-year breakout after transferring, marking his name in the middle of the first-round mocks. His most translatable skill in the NBA has to be his rim-slashing. Using a combination of size and athletic tools allows him to muscle through contact and play with a downhill game. He’s also got the lateral agility to switch across multiple positions. He uses his instincts to disrupt passing lanes and post numbers off the glass effectively.
Though Swain could use some assistance in quickening up his release, as the slow, two-motion mechanical hitch limits his shooting volume and leaves him vulnerable to defenders gapping his drives. His handle can also get quite loose and predictable in heavy traffic — that amounted to 2.6 turnovers a game. Scouts have also noted that he relies too heavily on his long-speed and straight-line quickness rather than instant acceleration or first-step.
Swain averaged 1.6 steals in his junior season, making him a viable candidate for Will Hardy’s defensive switchability and size playbook. He’d provide an energetic perimeter defender off the bench to ease the load off Ace Bailey and whoever the Jazz select at #2. If the development staff can quicken his release, playing him next to Lauri or another of Utah’s shooting wings becomes a lot easier since teams won’t be able to sag off him. Scouts compare him most to that of Gordon Hayward or a more versatile Evan Turner.
The draft is nearing quickly — depending on the NBA Finals results, there’s usually a week or so of time left before teams make their selections for the Draft.
Would you trade for an additional project as the Jazz transition to winning basketball? Would you stay firm with a sole #2 and stock up on veterans? Give your opinion in the comment section below, and explain why you chose the 2014 David Kahn approach of converting every European prospect into a Minnesota Timberwolf.