The Jazz currently possess the ninth pick in this year’s top-heavy NBA draft. Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune considers how the Jazz could theoretically trade their way into a higher pick.
Larsen notes that Trail Blazers, Rockets, and potentially even the Pistons could be looking to move on from their own lottery selections in the 3-5 range.
At this past week’s draft combine in Chicago, the Jazz spoke to Alabama forward Brandon Miller, Villanova wing Cam Whitmore, UCF big man Taylor Hendricks, and Houston forward Jarace Walker, all of whom are projected to be off the board before Utah can draft.
“I’m sure we’re going to have a lot of interesting conversations here over the next few weeks,” GM Justin Zanik told Larsen. “As we get our own internal work done, then we’ll really start engaging with teams as they get to build their board and know a little bit more as well.”
There’s more out of the Northwest Division:
- Sources around the NBA inform Sarah Todd of The Deseret News that they don’t expect the Jazz to retain all three of their current first-round draft picks. Besides No. 9, Utah also controls No. 16 and No. 28.
- Organizational patience has been a huge factor in the Nuggets’ playoff success story this season, opines Sam Amick of The Athletic. “I remember [former team president Tim Connelly] calling me up, [and saying], ‘Hey, we can trade Jamal [Murray] for this guy,’” head coach Michael Malone recalled in a conversation with Amick. “[This was] probably three or four years ago — [and it was] a marquee player. I said ‘No.’ Like, ‘What? Let’s not rush this. We have a patient ownership group. Let’s f—ing take our time and build this the right way. A bigger name is not always better.’” Murray discussed how the close-knit chemistry among the team’s core players has positively impacted their on-court performance. “You’re a tighter group when you’ve been together for so long,” Murray said. “You know each other’s tendencies. You have a better feeling for each other. I just think that we’ve grown as a team, and as a core. We’ve grown, (as opposed to) the team that moves around a lot.”
- The expert passing and basketball IQ of the Nuggets’ core players has helped the team put their own unique stamp on a postseason run that sees them just one game away from their first ever NBA Finals appearance, writes Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports. “I love it, just because you can see everybody’s moving,” All-NBA center Nikola Jokic said of the team’s ball distribution. “I think that’s hard to guard.”
They are so poised right now, they all know what each other can do and simplify the game down to getting that most possessions. It leads to a great consistency, something the Lakers do not have (and haven’t) all year
By far the best team in the West 2023, I think only a fully healthy Clipper team woulda truly threatened them from the west
Connelly needed someone like Malone in the Timberwolves organization. Instead he blew all the assets to pair two Cs together.
Yeah, some guys are always trying to swing for the fences, in business, too. Can get you in a difficult situation, as we see.
If you never swing then you never hit…100% miss for shots not taken.
All about a teams philosophy on how to rebuild.
He didn’t blow all the assets. He consolidated his assets.
Gobert trade wasn’t an issue or the many players as they were replaced with other players.
Wolves expectations are the problem now. Injuries didn’t help. Build around ant. Leverage kat if their is good offers as the team learned how to win without him. Gobert contract is mammoth but so is many other like Lillard. One player getting half the team cap. Dang good but can’t win it all. Team sport and requires some balance.
Wolves have talent and might surprise teams.
The gobert trade just shows how silly it is for any team to go all in. Rarely works.
Suns had to do kd…even mavs took a swing …ki and luka did fine but lacked a team to support the stars.
Swing away is what these owners do best. Only one will rule them all! Lotr
The Jazz won’t make a trade just to make a trade. I can see them packaging assets or making a smaller deal for the future. It’ll all depend on what is available and how they value this draft closer to the draft itself.
If free agency was before the draft then that would change so many teams’ strategies. The problem is free agency takes so much longer because there’s so many more players available out there.
NBA not like nfl. Free agency point is argument but it’s here and teams will be debating their philosophy on how to rebuild and shape their roster.
Knicks and their owner are a perfect example of trading just to look like you’re doing something. The only sure way to build a winner. Is to do it thru the draft and use patience and development. Nuggets have done that. Trading for Gordon was a great move. At the right time. Nuggets are playing better than any team in playoffs right now. Like Murray said. 5 more just 5 more.
Jazz would be smart to draft players this yr. It’s a strong 1st rd imo. And the ninth pick is a future starter. Other two are rotation players. Keep the picks. You can trade next yr.
The draft is hyped. Covid and extra year changed things and there is more options in this draft. Drafting odds is important to know. Getting a top 10 helps the odds but even then…still way to many busts.
Whats better then one top 10….two of them.
Hornets may want to use pick to move Hayward off of their books. Or both rozier and gordon.
All about philosophy when rebuilding .
Remember when everyone thought denver was screwed when Connely left and the Barton/Morris for KCP trade was a steal for Washington?
Calvin Booth for GM of the year
More like joker for mvp do over.
More we look at this we will see two play in teams making a point just like you made…
People can say remember see see told you so
All fake traps and narratives but make for fun banter
Yeah I get ya. The point wasn’t to be “I told you so.” Just wild how much changes in a few months. I’m a fan but didn’t think the nugs had the pieces for a title run