When Utah opted to keep Svi Mykhailiuk over Johnny Juzang this offseason, many were shocked because the latter not only had a better season than the former, but was also counted on more by the Jazz. But two games into the season, it’s clear why the Jazz kept Mykhailiuk: He’s a placeholder in the starting lineup until one of the Jazz kids makes it clear they’re the better option.
As of this moment, the Jazz know what they’re going to get out of Svi Mykhailiuk: a big-time spacer who handles his when he’s out there. When he is playing, Mykhailiuk can hold his own, although his ceiling as a rotation player is too high. Utah has players who expect to be better than him, so it’s a matter of when, not if, they prove they’re better starters than him.
Mykhailiuk did a pretty good job with what the Jazz asked of him in their dominant win over the Clippers and their hard-fought loss to the Kings. By starting him, they are sending a message to their young talent that if they want a spot in the starting lineup, they have to earn it.
In the NBA, nothing is guaranteed, regardless of a player’s potential or talent. The Jazz have young players who will likely be or already are better than Mykhailiuk. They are not playing him for the time being because he is necessarily better, but because he fits in better with the starters than they do. At least, that’s what Will Hardy thinks.
If he didn’t, someone else
Who are the candidates to take Mychailiuk’s place?
Two games into the season, there are three candidates who could take over Mykhailiuk in the starting lineup: Ace Bailey, Brice Sensabaigh and Walter Clayton Jr.
Bailey hasn’t exactly set the world on fire since he started his NBA career, but it’s pretty clear that his problem is his illness. Once he comes back to himself, Jazz fans will hopefully see what he really looks like in legitimate NBA competition.
Sensabaugh has only further proven that he is truly an NBA player. He hasn’t missed a beat since last season and has only continued to build the hype about what he could be in the long run. Maybe Utah thinks he’s better off on the bench for now, but evidence is mounting that he’s definitely an NBA starter.
Clayton seemed incredibly primed for a rookie. He has made it clear that Utah was smart to trade for him in the draft. The Jazz may just want his career to start small, but the returns on him have been excellent. He looks like the Jazz’s most NBA-ready rookie since Donovan Mitchell.
Don’t be surprised if one of these three takes Mykhailiuk’s spot soon enough. Don’t be surprised if all three are in the starting lineup at some point this season.
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