(Photo by Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)
All eyes are on the Atlanta Hawks, who hold the coveted No. 1 pick, as NBA fans prepare for the draft.
But there will be other movers and shakers, and one team that appears to be ready to strike is the Utah Jazz as the club holds the 10th, 29th and 32nd overall picks.
This could fire up the team’s considerable fan base, which has had little to celebrate for the last two seasons as the Jazz fell short of the postseason.
This followed six straight campaigns of reaching the playoffs, including division crowns in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
NBA insider Evan Sidery reported that the Jazz are busy seeking to improve their position heading into the draft (per DraftExpress).
Part of the effort is to acquire another top-20 selection by dangling their No. 29 and 32 picks as bait.
The Jazz are active in trade talks leading up to the draft, per @DraftExpress (https://t.co/RUGNKKDKnH).
Utah is seeking another top-20 pick by packaging Nos. 29 and 32.
If the board falls a certain way, Utah appears open to trade-up possibilities from No. 10 as well. pic.twitter.com/GcPrxoBCyU
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 24, 2024
Sidery further noted that, depending on how the draft develops, the Jazz may also look to trade up from No. 10.
This is an interesting year for draft watchers, as the top of the board features a jumble of fine players but few, if any, apparent superstars.
But there are solid acquisitions to be had, and Utah desperately needs to upgrade its roster to be competitive in the tough Western Conference.
Not only did the Jazz finish fourth in the Northwest Division last year, but they were a depressing 25 games behind the pace set by the No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves.
It was not long ago that Utah was a yearly contender, and an impressive haul in the upcoming draft could vault the franchise back to among the conference’s playoff participants.
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