Mar 29, 2023; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Romeo Langford (35) drives to the basket against Utah Jazz center Damian Jones (15) during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
The Utah Jazz are giving a former first-round pick a second chance
The Utah Jazz are looking to give former first-round pick Romeo Langford another shot.
In a moment out of Independence Day, Danny Ainge is telling everyone that he wants to take another crack at things. In the movie, President Thomas J. Whitmore, played by Bill Pullman finds that the attack against the aliens in the climax of the film isn’t going their way, as the force field is still up around the alien ship. Having faith in those around him, he knows that his allies will get them the shot they need. So he launches another rocket to greater success.
Ainge, heading into his second full year as the Utah Jazz head honcho, is doing his best Pullman impersonation from Independence Day, telling everyone he wants another shot. But in this scenario, it’s not Pullman trying to blow up an alien ship, but Ainge trying out a player he drafted once already.
Enter Romeo Langford. Langford was drafted by Ainge and the Boston Celtics in 2019 at pick No. 14, and since then, Langford has bounced around the league. He’s gone from Boston, to the G-League with the Maine Red Claws and back to the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs.
But due to a lack of consistent shooting from behind the three-point line, he’s been largely an afterthought in the eyes of many. But Ainge and the Utah Jazz want to give the young Langford one more shot.
He’s been signed to an Exhibit 10 deal and will give the Jazz another guard to play around with and see how he fits.
This may be a situation where Langford gets reps at point guard, or it may be a sign they’re looking at moving on from a guard or two in an upcoming trade. It could also just be a favor from Ainge to Langford, with the idea that the Jazz won’t retain him long-term but if he puts in a good effort, maybe another team will want him to join with them.
Either way, it’s important to remember that Langford is a career 28% three-point shooter, and so any lofty expectations you may have for him should be limited.
