Kyle Filipowski lands in ideal spot with Jazz
The Utah Jazz have selected Kyle Filipowski with the 32nd pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The Duke Blue Devils product was expected to be selected in the first round, but saw himself slide into the early part of the second.
Jayson Tatum took to social media on Wednesday to warn teams that they were making a mistake by looking over the impressive forward.
Filipowski is landing in a good situation with the Jazz. Will Hardy's team is still developing. They're a young group and play an exciting brand of basketball. Filipowski will likely find a role with the Jazz's second unit to begin the season.
After spending two years in Duke's system, Filipowski won't be a raw prospect. However, he will need a steady dose of minutes to acclimate him to the NBA game. Furthermore, his upside can only be realized by having a consistent role within the rotation.
Filipowski will bring size and versatility to Utah's rotation. He could form a fearsome frontcourt partnership with Lauri Markkanen. The modern NBA is built around size and skill. Having two bigs who can play at the four and work with the ball in their hands or as an off-ball threat is a luxury most teams can only wish for.
Utah is multiple seasons away from being a legitimate threat. Filipowski could develop into a genuinely impactful member of their rotation. He was widely expected to be a late lottery pick or potentially fall into the mid-20s. Utah's selection of him in the second round is a significant win for the franchise.
It will be interesting to see what role Filipowski is asked to play during his rookie year. Nevertheless, he has all the talent and skills to thrive in the league. Utah is an ideal landing spot for him. Now, he must put the work in to prove he can stick in the league beyond his rookie scale deal, and that's no easy task.
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