Taylor Hendricks has played sporadically this season with the Jazz, but that figures to change after they made several recent moves.
Taylor Hendricks has played sporadically this season with the Utah Jazz, but that figures to change after the organization made several moves at the trade deadline.
The Jazz were very active ahead of the deadline on Thursday, moving Kelly Olynyk, Ochai Agbaji and Simone Fontecchio. Their departures project to open up significant minutes in the frontcourt, clearing the way for Hendricks to see a larger role.
Hendricks, the ninth pick, was highly touted out of UCF as a player who can affect games on both ends of the court. The organization was impressed with his size, at 6 feet, 9 inches, and his ability to shoot and defend at a high level with his 7-foot wingspan.
Jazz coach Will Hardy confirmed Hendricks will see a larger role.
Taylor’s life is very different now. Taylor is going to be a part of our rotation. He is going to be playing every night. How much he plays every night will be determined by how well he plays, but his responsibilities now are far different. He is being counted on every night. He is going to be held to a very high standard in terms of how he performs on both sides of the ball.
Hendricks has spent the majority of the season in the G League with the Salt Lake City Stars. He has logged 14 appearances with the Jazz and has only played three times since the start of the new year, including a three-point, eight-rebound effort on Thursday.
The 20-year-old is averaging 14.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.3 assists on 35.6% shooting from 3-point range in 22 games with the Stars. He has scored in double figures 19 times, including a career-high 26 points on Nov. 29.
The team believes Hendricks has shown significant improvement throughout the year with the Stars and Jazz. He was known as a tremendous 1-on-1 defender with the Knights and is learning how to defend in a team concept.
Hendricks says that has been the biggest adjustment this year.
It is really just being in a whole different role. In college, I really wasn’t chasing guys off screens or forcing anybody to the screen and things like that. That is probably the biggest thing I’ve learned: Learning defense in a whole new aspect.
The team will integrate Hendricks more into the rotation over the course of the rest of the season. They will watch him and monitor how he handles himself on and off the court and if he is ready to contribute nightly in the NBA.
He is ready for the opportunity.
“We traded a few guys around my position, so my role is probably going to increase,” Hendricks said. “Whatever they ask me to do, I’m willing to do it regardless.”
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