Jazz is keeping their options open throughout the pre-draft process, but they may try to trade certain 2024 draft picks.
The Utah Jazz have three draft picks in the 2024 draft (numbers 10, 29, and 32), but team insiders suggest they may not want to use all three picks when the draft is held on June 26 and 27, as they have other plans. “It’s possible, in my opinion, to give us additional access to players.”
In the NBA draft, Bart Taylor, vice president of player personnel for the Jazz, dropped from the eighth to the tenth pick. It is by no means ideal for the Jazz to enter the 2024–25 season with three players who were rookies the previous season and three new rookies.
The team’s preference is to use two or more of the selections in a trade transaction. What is a trade package? That is still up for debate and might include moving up in the 2024 draft, future draft picks, and proven players on other clubs.
Nevertheless, the Jazz are optimistic that they could get a truly valuable player with the tenth overall choice.The overall consensus on the 2024 draft class has been that it is a weak draft positioned between the 2023 and 2025 stacked classes. However, a number of executives and scouts at this week’s NBA combine have stated that the weakest part of the draft class isn’t the entire class but rather the top pick.
An Eastern Conference executive stated, “In a quote-unquote stronger draft, you’d have maybe a clear consensus top-five.” “This draft has fewer top-five outliers than previous ones, but there are still some really good players and most likely a consensus top-20.”
The Jazz, who have begun pre-draft workouts in Utah, had a full schedule of interviews in Chicago (up to 20 players can be interviewed by each team at the combine) and will carry on through Thursday.
Interviewees include Ron Holland (G League Ignite), Alexandre Sarr (Perth Wildcats), Donovan Clingan (UConn), Rob Dillingham (Kentucky), and Zach Edey (Purdue).
The variety of players the Jazz are speaking with indicates that they are considering every option on the draft board. While Edey is anticipated to go closer to the 20th pick in the first round, Sarr is probably a top-three selection.
Many assumed that the Jazz would not be satisfied with the results when they were moved from the eighth to the tenth choice in Sunday’s lottery. However, the Jazz see a small bright spot in the decrease from a pre-draft perspective.
According to Jazz vice president of player personnel Bart Taylor, “I think it legitimately could give us some more access to players,” Taylor spoke with the Deseret News. It could be helpful to get more players we wanted to see in workouts because “when you have the eighth or sixth pick or whatever, the guys that are projected to be like 12, 13, 14—their agents are like, ‘OK, are you even considering him.”
Additionally, the Jazz don’t think there is much of a talent difference between having the eighth and 10th picks because this draft class is flatter and has fewer outliers.
Crucially, the Jazz are holding out for all three picks in June and are keeping their options open. However, a good deal may rapidly change their plans, and they might even be inclined to trade all three of their 2024 selections for a high enough price.