NBA Draft 2016: 5 players the Utah Jazz need to target
By Brad Weiss
5. Domantas Sabonis, F / C, Gonzaga
The son of former NBA star Arvydas Sabonis, Domantas could be selected by the Jazz to provide some depth in their already solid frontcourt. At 6’10” and 240 pounds, Sabonis has a solid overall game and is fairly skilled on offense. He runs the floor very well for a big man and has amazing footwork for someone his size.
In his first season as a starter for Gonzaga, Sabonis averaged 17.6 points per game, while pulling down 11.8 rebounds. Despite playing only two years for the Zags, he is the all-time leader in career field goal percentage (.632), and last year became the 41st player in school history to record 1,000 points. His 694 rebounds rank eighth all-time. He was an honorable mention selection on the AP All-American list.
The knock on Sabonis is that he is viewed by many as a tweener, as he does not have the size to play center, or the athleticism to play forward. However, he has a high basketball I.Q., and should be able to fill a role off the bench at the NBA level. An aggressive rebounder, Sabonis is a very strong kid, and that can sometimes get him in foul trouble.
The Jazz are very strong up front, so adding Sabonis will give him the time to progress into a solid contributor. He has the pedigree to be a force in the league, but will need to work on his mid-range game if he is going to be successful. With good athleticism, rebounding ability, and soft touch, Sabonis could be an intriguing pick at 12.
Next: No. 4 Malachi Richardson