The Utah Jazz must enhance their bench if they aspire to contend.
The Utah Jazz’s narrow escape against the Charlotte Hornets raised serious concerns. Despite the Hornets being among the league’s weakest teams, the Jazz struggled to generate contributions from their bench during most of the second half, resulting in an unpredictable score that allowed the Hornets to make a comeback.
The performance was disappointing and underscored the bench’s shortcomings. Defensively, no one stood out, including Walker Kessler. Although Kelly Olynyk showed promise offensively, nearly recording a triple-double in just 18 minutes of play (6 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists), and Jordan Clarkson made some shots, the overall bench performance faltered.
There have been persistent discussions about Clarkson possibly fitting better on another team, and Keyonte George’s lack of readiness became glaringly apparent during this game. George, apart from Ochai Agbaji, posted a negative BPM (Box Plus-Minus). His defensive struggles raise concerns about potential liabilities when he’s on the court.
While Agbaji exhibits stronger defensive skills, his offensive performance lags behind. His defensive prowess isn’t sufficient to compensate for his limited offensive impact.
The bench is currently in disarray and requires restructuring for better chances of winning games and preventing collapses. It’s advisable to remove George from the rotation and consider trading Agbaji and Clarkson. Transition Kessler to the starting lineup and place John Collins on the bench.
Seeking a defensive-minded guard, perhaps resembling Matisse Thybulle, and a secondary shooter, akin to Luke Kennard, could significantly enhance the overall bench unit without incurring substantial costs. Additionally, such moves could mitigate inconsistencies in performance from game to game.
