New Development Could Force Jazz to ‘Choose a Direction,’ per ESPN
The Utah Jazz have made some strides this offseason in upgrading a roster that is now positioned to make a playoff push in 2023-24. However, what happens if the Jazz are on the fence of making the play-in tournament?
It’s a fair question, considering the status of Utah's 2024 first-round pick. The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently in possession of that first-rounder, but it's top-10 protected. Is that a pick worth tanking for?
According to NBA writer Kevin Pelton of ESPN, Utah could be motivated to take the foot off the gas in order to keep that pick in 2024. Pelton shared his thoughts with Spence Checketts on ESPN 700’s The Drive.
“You got this top-10 protected pick to Oklahoma City from the Derrick Favors trade out there, and it kind of forces the Jazz to choose a direction around the All-Star break and trade deadline just ahead of it,” Pelton told Checketts. “If you’re right on the cusp of that, the worst thing you want to do is finish with the 11th or 12th pick and send that to Oklahoma City. That doesn’t make any sense.”
Utah’s mindset heading into the 2023-24 season is certainly to win as many games as possible. Shelling out big dollars in the John Collins acquisition and attempting to acquire Jrue Holiday shows that tanking is a thing of the past.
But what if Utah is hovering around the No. 11 or 12 seed at the trade deadline? Do the Jazz cash in their chips in an attempt to keep that selection?
From this point of view, Utah should want to relinquish that selection, even if it lands at the No. 11 or 12 spot. It’s a debt that Utah will want to pay off sooner rather than later.
If the Jazz land in the bottom 10, then the pick gets pushed into 2025 with the same top-10 protection. In 2026, the selection becomes top-8 protected if it’s still not paid off.
Utah would only keep the pick if it bottoms out for three straight years. In other words, at some point, the Thunder are very likely to receive the pick.
With a weak draft class projected for 2024, there isn’t a better time to unload that debt, even if Utah lands at No. 11. Also part of this calculus is the fact that Utah is in possession of 14 first-round picks over the next seven years.
The Jazz aren't going to sacrifice the season over losing one selection out of their stockpile of first-rounders that is likely lost either way. Rest assured, Jazz fans, the thoughts of tanking to keep that pick can be put to bed.
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