Projecting Jazz's Coveted Target in a Trade-Up if Rumors Are True
The Utah Jazz have kept their cards close to the vest throughout this draft cycle.
There have been no workout lists. No interviews with reporters. Not even an idea of how Utah's roster will look next season.
Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, in particular, is not one to telegraph his plan. Despite this, there are a few dots we can attempt to connect with what we’ve heard.
Multiple rumors have linked the Jazz and Detroit Pistons, who currently hold the No. 5 overall pick, as possible trade partners. Two names have been linked to the Jazz in this scenario, Houston forward Jarace Walker and Arkansas guard Anthony Black. Both players are projected to go before the Jazz pick at 9.
The Pistons seem to like Walker as well as UCF forward Taylor Hendricks. If Detroit believes one of these two will be available at 9, it makes sense for them to move back a few spots and grab some extra assets from a team like the Jazz.
However, the Indiana Pacers have largely been linked to those same two forwards. If Utah moved up to 5 to take Walker, that all but eliminates both he and Hendricks from being there at 9. That doesn’t quite add up.
Next, Anthony Black is widely projected to be drafted by the Washington Wizards at 8. While the fit between Black and the Jazz is enticing, Utah has also been linked to a number of guards either at pick 16 or via trade-up.
Of those names, Baylor’s Keyonte George and Michigan’s Kobe Bufkin have been commonly mentioned to the Jazz. The question is, do the Jazz believe there is enough of a gap between Black and those other guards to make a move up the board for him? I’m skeptical.
Who Else Would Jazz Trade Up For?
Villanova wing Cam Whitmore is projected by ESPN and The Ringer to fall to the Jazz at pick 9. The problem is, before the rumors of him performing poorly in workouts started pouring out over the last 24 hours, Whitmore was a near-consensus lock for the top 5.
Did people just catch wind that he hadn’t performed well, or is there some gamesmanship being played? With Whitmore’s combination of athleticism, handle, and shotmaking ability, it definitely seems like he’d be a prospect that shines in individual workouts.
OTE guard Ausar Thompson has flown under the radar recently. With Ainge’s history of surprising people, the silence around Thompson could be telling.
This Thompson twin is a similar prospect to Black with his high basketball IQ, but he possesses even more length and athleticism. Thompson certainly fits what the Jazz are building and offers untapped potential as a primary ball handler.
Bottom Line
We don’t know if the Jazz are going to trade up or who exactly they’d target if they did so. With how quiet the Jazz have been, it doesn’t make sense that they’d tip their hand this close to the draft though.
I assume their actual target is still under wraps. One thing is certain, we’ll find out Thursday.
Follow Inside The Jazz on Facebook and Twitter.
Subscribe on YouTube for breaking Jazz news videos and live-stream podcasts!
