Darius

Bazley

Bazley has reached double digits in rebounds in both of the Lakers’ games in Las Vegas, and he was especially impactful defensively on Saturday. The 2019 first-round pick blocked five shots and recorded two steals against the Pelicans, which undoubtedly compensated for his poor night at the foul line. Whether it’s with the Lakers or another team, Bazley being valuable as a rebounder and defender is critical to earning another shot in the NBA.

A first-round pick in the 2019 draft, Bazley is looking to earn another opportunity in the NBA. While he did not provide much value as a scorer on Thursday, the rebounding and defensive ability stood out in the Lakers’ two-point defeat. Despite Trey Jemison II and Christian Koloko being on the roster, Bazley was the starting center against the Mavericks. If Bazley can take on those assignments defensively, that may help his chances of returning to the NBA.

Bazley shouldn’t have to play in Summer League to earn a roster spot, but he is. With how dominant he has been, it would be surprising if he didn’t at least get a two-way deal. He was fantastic on both ends of the floor on Tuesday and helped the Lakers complete the comeback with a putback dunk that gave them the 89-88 lead. As long as Bazley is suiting up, expect him to dominate.

Bazley last played in the NBA during the 2023-24 season, where he suited up nine times between the 76ers and Jazz. He’s attempting to get back on a roster by playing with the Lakers this summer. He has been a strong category league option in the past, so it’s worth watching to see if he can find a rotation spot somewhere in the NBA next season.

Lofton and Bazley played with the Jazz last season, with the former appearing in four games and the latter six. Neither departure will impact fantasy basketball, as Lofton and Bazley weren’t in the rotation most nights.

Bazley signed a three-year with Utah in March, but he has only seen the floor over their last five games. During that stretch, he has averaged 9.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game, which has him ranked inside the top-125 over the past two weeks. He should be a reliable depth piece for the Jazz next season, but it is unlikely that he plays anywhere close to enough minutes to impact fantasy basketball. It’s nice to see him playing well, and he may have another solid game in the finale on Sunday, but that should be his final good performance until next silly season.

Bazley logged just nine total minutes for the 76ers in three appearances this season, but he more than tripled that playing time in his Jazz debut on Friday. Baz was recalled from the G League on Wednesday, and Utah wasted no time in getting him involved in the rotation. Bazley tied for second in team scoring on what was a pitiful effort from the rebuilding Jazz, and he led all players in minutes. With Utah eliminated from playoff contention, multiple key players injured and just one week remaining in the season, Bazley is among the depth options on Utah’s roster that could see meaningful minutes for the final five games of the 2023-24 campaign.

Bazley has balled out for the Delaware Blue Coats of the G League, and he’ll get a shot with a Jazz team that’s shuffled its frontcourt rotation repeatedly throughout the season. Keep an eye on Baz as we get into the thick of “silly season.”

Baz played the first three seasons of his career in Oklahoma City, and he split time between the Thunder and Suns in 2022-23. He hasn’t appeared in the NBA this season, but he’s been one of the best players in the G League behind averages of 20.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 2.5 blocks and 1.3 triples for the Delaware Blue Coats. The Sixers aren’t exactly the deepest team in the Association, so Bazley has a chance to carve out a meaningful role for his new team.

Bazley signed with Brooklyn in July after spending the end of last season with Phoenix following a trade from the Thunder. It has been a whirlwind eight months, and he’ll now be looking to join his fourth organization in that time frame. Bazley has some solid upside, but he hasn’t had the opportunity to display it frequently. He’ll receive plenty of interest from multiple teams across the league.