Former lottery pick Kris Dunn has huge opportunity with Jazz

Kris Dunn was the No. 5 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, but trades and injuries kept him from reaching his potential. In February, the Jazz signed Dunn after trading incumbent point guard Mike Conley and waiving Russell Westbrook, and he excelled, earning a non-guaranteed deal for this season.

Jazz beat writer Sarah Todd believes that Dunn is the best point guard on the roster. She wrote, "If it were me coaching the team, independent of a front office and the league at large, I would start Dunn."

Of course, the Jazz also have other young talent to sort out. The 22-year-old Talen Horton-Tucker is in the last year of his contract, while 24-year-old Collin Sexton hasn't secured a role on the team after coming over from Cleveland in the Donovan Mitchell trade and was reportedly on the trade block earlier this summer. Utah also drafted 19-year-old guard Keyonte George with the No. 16 overall pick.

While the others might have more upside or trade value, it's very possible that Dunn is Utah's the best point guard right now. He shot extremely well last season, which may not be sustainable, but his passing and defense are truly valuable. Averaging 5.6 assists against 1.6 turnovers is quite solid, and Dunn has always been dogged defender, finishing second in the league in steals per game in 2019-20.

It makes him a good backcourt partner to the offense-first Sexton or Jordan Clarkson. While Dunn's shooting hasn't been great in his career, it's simply not as crucial alongside shooters like those guards, plus All-Star Lauri Markkanen and veteran forward Kelly Olynyk.

Plus, on a team with four rookies and two second-year players, it's always nice to have a veteran point guard. Dunn would be the third-oldest Utah player, behind Olynyk and Clarkson. The Jazz are so young that even a six-year veteran like John Collins is still only 25.

Dunn is not Utah's point guard of the future, but he very well may be the Jazz's point guard of right now.