Jazz select Udoka Azubuike with 27th pick in NBA draft

Jazz select Udoka Azubuike with 27th pick in NBA draft

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Jazz selected Kansas center Udoka Azubuike with the No. 27 pick of the NBA draft.

Azubuike gives Utah a rim protector and interior defender who can be a backup center to spell Rudy Gobert. He is also an accurate shooter around the basket.

During his four-year career with the Jayhawks, Azubuike set an NCAA record with a .749 career field goal percentage. He averaged 12.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in 87 career games at Kansas.

Following the selection of Azubuike the Jazz traded Tony Bradley and the 38th pick in Wednesday’s NBA draft to the Detroit Pistons for future considerations, which appeared to end the night for Utah.

However, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Jazz will acquire the 39th pick, Syracuse wing Elijah Hughes, from the New Orleans Pelicans.

ESPN’s Andrew Lopez reported that the Jazz will send a future pick in exchange for the 6-foot-6, 215-pound Hughes, who averaged exactly 19 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season for Syracuse.