Are Jazz Among the 'Teams Seriously Pursuing No. 2 Pick?'

With the 2022-23 season officially in the rearview mirror, the focus switches to next week's NBA draft. Based on social media hearsay, it’s shaping up to be one of the wildest drafts Utah Jazz fans have ever witnessed.

According to ESPN insider Brian Windhorst, there are four lottery picks that are attempting to trade out of the first round.

“We could see three or four picks in the top-10 get traded," Windhorst reported on ESPN's Get Up. “Watch for Portland at No. 3 to add people around Damian Lillard. Houston at four has indicated they might be interested in moving. Detroit at five and Dallas at No. 10—and nobody’s sure what Charlotte is going to do at No. 2 with the player that they’re going to draft. So we can have action on draft night.”

The dominoes will start falling when the Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers decide whether to part with their pick or stay put. Blue-chip prospects Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller will cost an arm and a leg if the Jazz decide it’s worth moving up to No. 2 or 3.

Also, there would be no getting around All-Star Lauri Markkanen being part of the equation if Jazz CEO Danny Ainge makes an attempt to move up that far.

The team that appears to have the most motivation to get in the top-3 are the New Orleans Pelicans. The Athletic's Shams Charania is on the record stating the Pelicans have their eyes set on Scoot Henderson.

“The Pelicans are expected to aggressively pursue a top pick—potentially two or three with their eyes set on Scoot Henderson, sources tell me," Charania said. “Henderson and Alabama’s Brandon Miller are vying to potentially go No. 2 to the Charlotte Hornets in the draft. Henderson worked out in Charlotte on Sunday and Miller goes on Tuesday. Expect the Hornets to further solidify their draft board as this week closes. But the Pelicans are among teams that are seriously pursuing that No. 2 pick.”

Thanks to the Anthony Davis exchange with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019, the Pelicans have the means to be aggressive on draft day if they so choose. They’re not a franchise Utah wants to get into a bidding war with.

It still remains to be seen whether Utah is one of the “teams” that will make a push for Henderson, but no scenario should be taken lightly with ‘Trader Danny’ steering the ship.

Henderson does fill what may be Utah’s biggest positional need at point guard. If Utah doesn’t make a play on Henderson, there are two other point guards that may be available at No. 9.

Arkansas’ Anthony Black and Kentucky’s Cason Wallace are projected lottery picks and have both worked out for the Jazz. However, if Black is the player Utah prefers, it may require a trade to leap-frog a couple of spots to have a more realistic shot of obtaining him.

Closure is coming soon, with draft day only eight days away.

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