The former Hoosier was moved to Salt Lake City as part of the massive Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade.
Less than two years after Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka selected Jalen Hood-Schifino in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft, he’s moved the young guard to the Utah Jazz as part of the blockbuster deal to land former Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis.
Hood-Schifino was in the middle of his second year with the Lakers and logged 23 appearances in the NBA. He started 15 games for the G-League South Bay Lakers in 2023-24, averaging 22 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 43.2% from deep.
The pick was always a curious one for the Lakers. With an aging LeBron James complimenting (at the time) a star center on both ends of the floor in Anthony Davis, why move for a guard who would need some more time to develop, especially with older players on the board? The only explanations that make sense are that they expected more sooner from Hood-Schifino or always planned to use him as a trade piece.
The Lakers went the other direction by picking Tennessee star Dalton Knecht, a senior, in last year’s NBA Draft.
As for the Jazz, they’re an interesting group. Utah is dead last in the Western Conference as of this writing, but they’re firmly in a rebuild led by former Celtics executive Danny Ainge. Unlike the Lakers, they don’t necessarily have to win now.
Utah has pieces like Lauri Markkanen, but it might be hard for Hood-Schifino to find a ton of room in the backcourt. The Jazz have some proven pieces like Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton and other young guards looking to prove themselves like Isaiah Collier, Johnny Juzang, Keyonte George.
Hood-Schifino will still need to be at his best in Utah, but there’s more of a path to being part of the organization’s future than in Los Angeles.