Utah Jazz: Way-Too-Early Draft Prospect Rankings

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Denzel Valentine Michigan State Spartans Utah Jazz 2016 NBA Draft

Feb 28, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) gestures to the crowd during the first half of a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

A way-too-early ranking of five prospects that could be on the Utah Jazz radar in the 2016 NBA Draft.

So the Utah Jazz are in a bit of a quagmire right now, with nary a giggity to be found. Before Saturday’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans, the team had lost five straight games and eight of their last 10. Playoff hopes are still alive, but injuries and a lack of depth on the team are taking their toll.

Woe is Jazz Nation.

So, in an effort to avoid basketball depression, I think it’s the perfect time to change the focus from the doldrums of the recent losing streak to a place where optimism reigns. A place where the next diamond in the rough is just waiting to be snatched up and developed into a superstar that will lead the Jazz to the promised land.

I’m talking about the the NBA Draft. I know, it’s early, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

While the Jazz are still battling for a spot in the postseason, the team clearly needs to be better if they wish to remain in the playoff conversation going forward. Whether it comes from internal development (yawn) or through free agency, the Jazz need more talent. The draft may be their best avenue to getting that talent.

Utah’s pick will likely fall in the middle of the first round or the back-end of the lottery, but there are still some interesting names that could be available to them this June.

So, with that in mind, here are five prospects for the 2016 NBA Draft that have caught my eye of late.

Next: No. 5: Timothe Luwawu