How should the Jazz use their extra draft picks?

[SoberasHotRod]

The Jazz have more draft picks than roster spots over the next 6 years. They will likely need to find a way to maximize their value in hopefully building a long term championship contender.

What do you think is the best way to use our pick stash? (Obviously we can use them in multiple ways and obviously is very dependent on circumstances, but you have to select one way you think is the most likely best use, which would you pick).

 

[NUMBERICA]

To draft (a star, principally) or to trade for a star in their prime.

Completely off the table for trading for a role player or anybody in their mid-30’s.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

Another related question is how many players is realistic for us to draft in the next 6 years?

I think we could draft maybe 9. If 5 become rotation level players then you have Lauri (hopefully he gets locked in long term), Kessler, Agbaji (maybe), +5 drafted players, + free agents is a lot. So we likely have 6 excessive draft picks to trade with.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Maybe to better answer your question and to address one of your main points: There are enough picks that they almost have to go after veteran/star players/promising young players. I think that’s part of the point.

The way I think of it is the Jazz should be trying to draft/develop another Mitchell/Gobert or two in the next 2-3 years, then have enough assets from trading them to trade for 1-2 more stars. THEN have enough picks/tradable players to churn the end of the roster to keep the payroll under control and maybe hit on more prospects in that churn in the process.

The Jazz are WAY ahead of the curve with the emergence of Lauri and Walker. It’s important to recognize the good but also to not get complacent.

 

[RyGuy]

Another related question is how many players is realistic for us to draft in the next 6 years?

I think we could draft maybe 9. If 5 become rotation level players then you have Lauri (hopefully he gets locked in long term), Kessler, Agbaji (maybe), +5 drafted players, + free agents is a lot. So we likely have 6 excessive draft picks to trade with.

This exactly why I'm a proponent of trading up in the draft. I get that it stings to package a bunch of picks. As fans we like to believe that all those future picks will be high value and turn into great assets. But we have such an excess we actually can't roster all those picks. And the 2027 and 2029 Cavs and Wolves picks might be top 5 or top 10 so we should probably keep those. But the 2025 picks and 2027 Lakers pick should be on the table for trades. I'd like to trade up in the draft and hopefully get a young star on a rookie contract with long term control.

But it is a much higher risk than trading for an established star. The problem is I don't think the Jazz are quite ready to trade for an established star. Let's not go all in early like the Cavs and Wolves in regards to getting a star. Let's instead gamble in the draft and hopefully get the next Kawhi Leonard or Jimmy Butler and then go from there.

Also our 3 picks this year should be on the table for trades. After all everybody says there's a big drop off after the top 8. We're at 9,16, and 28. Let's make some moves and get top end talent on a rookie contract with long term control

 

[fishonjazz]

Yes

 

[kcgar]

This exactly why I'm a proponent of trading up in the draft. I get that it stings to package a bunch of picks. As fans we like to believe that all those future picks will be high value and turn into great assets. But we have such an excess we actually can't roster all those picks. And the 2027 and 2029 Cavs and Wolves picks might be top 5 or top 10 so we should probably keep those. But the 2025 picks and 2027 Lakers pick should be on the table for trades. I'd like to trade up in the draft and hopefully get a young star on a rookie contract with long term control.

But it is a much higher risk than trading for an established star. The problem is I don't think the Jazz are quite ready to trade for an established star. Let's not go all in early like the Cavs and Wolves in regards to getting a star. Let's instead gamble in the draft and hopefully get the next Kawhi Leonard or Jimmy Butler and then go from there.

Also our 3 picks this year should be on the table for trades. After all everybody says there's a big drop off after the top 8. We're at 9,16, and 28. Let's make some moves and get top end talent on a rookie contract with long term control

What number do you think Kawhi and Jimmy were drafted at? The next whoever cannot just be decided on and then picked. You have to make your pick and then just get REALLY lucky that they are that kind of player. You can’t trade up and get that player either. All of those superstar players that you are thinking about were littered about in both rounds. Now I agree that statistically speaking better players on average are higher up in the draft, but if you are trading up because you think some player is going to be the next whoever, you are going to fail at least 9/10 times. You said “you have to risk it for the biscuit.” Well, in a sense that is true, but what you are talking about is betting it all on green 00. It is okay to trade up but understand that shouldn’t give too much and the likelihood of you getting a superstar is close to 0.
Personally, I am more of a proponent of keeping all of this years picks because you are more likely to hit or at the very least get a few above average players for your team.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

Ok, so I'm just looking at all sides of the trade up scenario, especially trading way up in the draft. One reason why that option is difficult is that it requires uneven talent evaluation by teams, and typically the team trading up would have less information as players often give the greatest access to teams drafting in their range.

 

[RyGuy]

What number do you think Kawhi and Jimmy were drafted at? The next whoever cannot just be decided on and then picked. You have to make your pick and then just get REALLY lucky that they are that kind of player. You can’t trade up and get that player either. All of those superstar players that you are thinking about were littered about in both rounds. Now I agree that statistically speaking better players on average are higher up in the draft, but if you are trading up because you think some player is going to be the next whoever, you are going to fail at least 9/10 times. You said “you have to risk it for the biscuit.” Well, in a sense that is true, but what you are talking about is betting it all on green 00. It is okay to trade up but understand that shouldn’t give too much and the likelihood of you getting a superstar is close to 0.
Personally, I am more of a proponent of keeping all of this years picks because you are more likely to hit or at the very least get a few above average players for your team.

I bet when you go to wendover your the person who only bets $5 a hand and gets scared to double down when you have a hard 10 or 11 and the dealer is showing a bust card.

And Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler were drafted 15th and 30th back in 2011. I believe back when wing players were considered tweeners and not nearly as sought after as today. You can't judge where some players were taken over a decade ago in a draft and apply to today when so much as changed and what teams value now than in comparison to then.

And I'm not betting it all on green. I offered one trade example to move up. I through out 5 picks. The jazz have plenty. What are you going to use them for? To draft a team of roleplayers like Jordan Clarkson? Enjoy getting eliminated in the second round every year. I even said I would keep the 2027 and 2029 Cavs and Wolves picks. Those picks probably will be quite valuable.

Due to the abundance of picks the jazz have, yes I would trade some of the lesser value ones to try and move up in the draft and hopefully though not guaranteed get a stud wing player that has the potential to be a top player in the NBA

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

All of the above… just be opportunistic… if a Kevin Huerter type deal pops up… go for it… if you can trade up on a draft for a guy you target… then do it… if the right star comes available at the right time… go get him cowboy… otherwise use them on players

 

[Hearsky]

I think we should share with the less fortunate franchises. Sharing is caring.
*It may be the psilocybin talking.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

All of the above… just be opportunistic… if a Kevin Huerter type deal pops up… go for it… if you can trade up on a draft for a guy you target… then do it… if the right star comes available at the right time… go get him cowboy… otherwise use them on players

Yes, of course, but you are playing it wrong. And maybe it's not a fun game so that's fine.

Maybe a better way to phrase the question is what way do you hope or envision our pick stash being used?

It feels like most of the talk has been around using the picks to trade for the next available star, but maybe we are seeing that isn't the best use of those picks after all.