NBA Draft 2019: Top 3 options for Utah Jazz to select at pick No. 23

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 22: Utah Jazz head coach Quin Synder and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz interact in the second half of Game Four during the first round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 22, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

2 of 4

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – MARCH 23: Mfiondu Kabengele #25 of the Florida State Seminoles dunks the ball against the Murray State Racers in the second half during the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 23, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

3. Mfiondu Kabengele – Florida State

2018-19 stats: 13.2 ppg 5.9 rpg 0.3 apg

If Utah does decide to let Favors go and focus on signing a point guard in free agency, they’ll be awfully thin behind Rudy Gobert and will need a big man who can play the 4/5 frontcourt positions.

There is a fair share of likely available big men the Jazz can grab but the one with the highest potential is Mfiondu Kabengele, a 6’10 forward from Florida State. He was the ACC 6th man of the Year and was highly productive when on the court. The former Seminole averaged 24.5 ppg and 11.0 rpg per 40 minutes and was an outstanding defender as well.

There were two reasons why Kabengele didn’t start and average just 21.6 mpg this past season. One was the fact that Florida State had several senior frontcourt players who also needed minutes but foul trouble also plagued him as well. Had he stayed for another year and averaged 30+ mpg for the Seminoles and continued to develop, Kabengele could’ve risen to lottery status for the 2020 Draft.

There’s an element of “raw” talent for Kabengele that head coach Quin Snider will have to tap into. But there’s a high level of potential with this player who could become like Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors, an athletic forward who with some development could turn into a future star.

Home/NBA Draft News