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SALT LAKE CITY — There's no question the Utah Jazz need more shooting. If their talented core of Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert is going to work out, spacing the floor around them is going to be critical.
Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey mentioned shooting as one of the Jazz's biggest needs when I asked him about it after the NBA's draft lottery: "This Utah Jazz team has to shoot the ball more consistently, out of more spots," he said.
And Lindsey wasn't alone.
Utah head coach Quin Snyder mentioned one reason the Jazz's pace was so slow last season was because the team didn't have the shooting to support the high-tempo system he envisioned. The draft may be a natural time to add the piece that supports the core by being able to knock down those open shots.
Wednesday's workout reflected that. Walt Perrin, Jazz vice president of player personnel, said of Wednesday's group of six, "It was probably the best shooting group we've had in so far, one of the best of the last few years, really."
The problem is it's hard to know which collegiate shooters will translate to the NBA. Jimmer Fredette famously hasn't, while Kawhi Leonard was a notoriously poor outside shooter at San Diego State before becoming a pretty good shooter in his first season with the Spurs. Prospect R.J. Hunter, visiting Wednesday from Georgia State, is a good example of the difficulties that can arise when evaluating how likely a player's shooting will translate.
Hunter's the first bona fide first-round prospect the Jazz have brought in for workouts, and is currently slated to be drafted No. 23 in ESPN's Chad Ford's mock draft, and No. 24 in DraftExpress' mock. Ford calls Hunter's a "terrific shooter," and not without cause. You may remember him as the player who scored 12 of the last 13 points, including a 30-footer with 2.6 seconds left, in an upset against Baylor in the NCAA Tournament this year.
Perrin, too, is a believer in Hunter's "ability to get the shot off quickly, ability to have NBA range."
It's good for Hunter, though, that his reputation as a shooter is positive, because his production is not. Hunter shot just 39.5 percent from the floor last season, and just 30.5 percent from the 3-point line. That's just not a good performance, especially against the limited competition of the Sun Belt Conference.
It was probably the best shooting group we've had in so far, one of the best of the last few years, really.
–Walt Perrin
But if Perrin or Hunter seemed too worried, they didn't show it.
Perrin said, "it's a concern, but not a huge concern. His shooting numbers dropped from the perimeter, but his free-throw shooting has gotten better, so we know he's a good shooter. Last year, he was double-teamed, triple-teamed, and his shot selection could have been better."
Hunter focused on his shot selection early in the season as the reason for the decline.
Some analysts also feel that Hunter's shot form won't work in the NBA. Perrin felt it was close, but did need some adjusting.
"He's got a nice quick release. Personally, I'd like to see him raise it up a little bit on his release, because he's going to be playing against taller, quicker, faster players who can jump also," Perrin said. "So, maybe just a little bit higher on the release, but his finish is good."
My opinion? I'm worried. If a player has both serious production issues and his form isn't great, I'm not sure he's the best bet to be a good NBA shooter. Scoring based on free-throw ability and outright chucking isn't likely to translate for a late first-round pick, and a future of Austin Rivers-esque disappointment seems probable.
Hunter does have more going for him, however. He's a good passer and showed improved playmaking this season. Given more spot-up opportunities and a decreased role on offense in the NBA, he might make a good player.
But if the Jazz are prioritizing shooting, there will be other opportunities. T.J. McConnell, a possible second-round selection also shot the ball well in Wednesday's workout, according to Perrin. He might be a good fit for one of the Jazz's two second-round slots.
And in DraftExpress' latest mock mentioned above, the Jazz are slated to be taking Kentucky guard Devin Booker, a knock-down shooter prodigy.
The Jazz have another workout slated for Thursday, featuring Kevon Looney, Bobby Portis, and Pat Connaughton, three relatively big names. One question, "How well can he shoot?" is sure to be asked over and over again.
