Report: Jazz 'Looking' to Trade-Up for Arkansas Guard

With the 2023 NBA draft just around the corner, the Utah Jazz can’t shake the Anthony Black rumors. According to Yahoo Sports' Krysten Peek, the Jazz have the means and motivation to trade up to as high as the No. 6 overall pick to select Black.

“Black is one of the most-talked about names trending toward the top of the draft and could be off the board as high as No. 6 to the Orlando Magic. The Jazz have three first-round picks (Nos. 9, 16 and 28) and could be looking to package picks to trade up for Black, the 6-foot-7 guard out of Arkansas. Black is arguably the fifth-best prospect in this draft class, outside of team need, in the way he sees the court, passes at a high level and plays elite defense on the perimeter.”

This would be headline news for Jazz fans considering it would most likely require parting with, at a minimum, the No. 9 and No. 16 overall pick. But if Jazz CEO Danny Ainge is hell-bent on obtaining the blue-chip prospect out of Arkansas, that’s what it would take considering that Black most likely won’t get by the Washington Wizards at the No. 8 spot, according to NBA draft expert Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report.

"Interest in Anthony Black seems to be spreading and growing. The Wizards at No. 8 now seem like his floor,” Wasserman wrote on Wednesday.

Black’s draft stock gaining momentum is justified thanks to his size, ability to get to the basket, and upside as a defender. The kryptonite in Black’s bag is his perimeter shooting, although at only 19 years old, he’ll have plenty of time to develop that aspect of his game.

Does the rumor have legs, or is Jazz CEO Danny Ainge putting up smoke screens in an attempt to disguise his true intentions? Jazz fans will find out tonight.

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