3 Controversial Trade Proposals for Jazz to Move Up in 2023 NBA Draft

Could we end up seeing the Utah Jazz make a bold move come draft night?

Rumblings of movement atop this year’s draft have already begun following this year’s NBA Draft Lottery. With this in mind, could we see the Utah Jazz get involved in these discussions? With the assets they currently have on hand, it’s absolutely possible we see a surprise from the team come draft night. The real question is, what would a potential deal to trade up look like?

Eight teams sit ahead of the Jazz on June 22nd’s draft, with the number one pick already being virtually untouchable. This gives Utah potentially seven teams to take interest in, and end up making a deal with. The Jazz have tons of flexibility as it currently stands, so there’s a variety of routes we see Danny Ainge and Justin Zanik go.

Let’s break down three potential trades we could see the Utah Jazz make in order to jump up in this year’s talented first round.

3. The Magic trade down to acquire more first-round talent

Utah Jazz receive: 6th-overall pick, 36th-overall pick, Jonathan Isaac

Orlando Magic receive: 9th-overall pick, 16th-overall pick, Kelly Olynyk, Rudy Gay

Orlando currently has among one of the best young cores in the league, however the team lacks true veteran talent. After adding three top ten picks in the past two years, the Magic could add two additional first rounders while also adding that necessary veteran talent to the roster. It would come at a minimal cost, only moving down three spots while also trading an additional second and Jonathan Isaac; a versatile defensive anchor when healthy, however failing to play over 50 total games in four seasons.

As for the Jazz, this can give the team more of an established franchise cornerstone by selecting at six. We could see a premier prospect like Amen or Ausar Thompson fall in Utah’s lap to be the franchise’s guard of the future. If not, a young, exciting forward like Cam Whitmore may be a player of intrigue.

While giving up the 16th-overall selection is a valuable asset to part ways with, Danny Ainge can get one of his notoriously-coveted second rounders in return, only 20 spots down from their existing pick. In the process, Utah also gets a high-risk, high-reward forward in Isaac that can fill a Jarred Vanderbilt-esque role at a high level (if healthy).

2. Jazz capitalize on Rockets’ preparation to welcome back James Harden

Utah Jazz receive: 4th-overall pick, 2024 second-round pick

Houston Rockets receive: 9th-overall pick, 16th-overall pick, Collin Sexton, Simone Fontecchio, 2027 CLE first-round pick

All signs currently point to the Rockets planning on the return of Harden back to H-Town. As a result, the team could opt to surround him with more extensive talent than the roster currently has. This trade effectively gives them three key contributing pieces to the rotation, including Sexton and two top-20 selections, only for the cost of moving down 5 slots and one of their four 2024 second-round picks.

While trading for more young talent to add to a roster that’s wants to compete is typically an unorthodox strategy, new Rockets’ HC Ime Udoka seems to have no issue with the team’s current youth, as described in his opening presser:

“Understanding that we’re going to take some lumps with our age and our youth, but my message to them will be that’s not an excuse. You’ve been in the league. You’ve been taught. And that’s my job: to teach, to expedite that process.” - Ime Udoka

Adding some young, cheap talent to the roster gives Houston not only an immense opportunity to develop them into contributing pieces to a championship team, but worst case scenario, all of these young players hold trade value. If proven unsuccessful, the Rockets would be a prime destination to trade for a superstar after this season.

For the Jazz, they unfortunately have to give two additional firsts and the team’s current starting guard in Sexton, but it’s a reasonable price to pay for a potential elite starting guard of the future. Instead of hoping one of the Thompson twins fall in the Jazz’s hands with the previous trade to six, this leaves the team with no doubt of one of these high-potential players landing to them.

1. The Jazz decide to go all in on a top-three pick

Utah Jazz receive: 3rd-overall pick, Anfernee Simons

Portland Trail Blazers receive: Lauri Markkanen, 28th-overall pick

Now this is where things get a bit wild, but may actually end up being the best case scenario for the Jazz. Let me explain...

As it currently sits, the Oklahoma City Thunder hold the Jazz’s top-10 protected 2024 first-round pick; the only selection Utah could have ownership of come next draft. This means if the Jazz end up picking anywhere from 11-30 in 2024, OKC ends up with the pick. Bad news for Utah fans, but an avoidable situation. This just means the team needs to secure a top-10 pick next year.

How to do this? Trade your currently most impactful player in return for significant draft capital to tank even harder than you already were. Think this is a crazy idea? We saw the San Antonio Spurs do this exact strategy when they traded away All-Star guard Dejounte Murray, and just look where they are today.

Markkanen showed flashes of greatness during his Most Improved Player campaign last season, but ask yourself: does Markkanen or a top-three draft pick have the better chance of being the best player on a championship team? Nine times out of ten, you’re going with the latter. With recent reports of the Blazers shopping their third pick for an elite SF, this could result as a win-win trade for both sides.

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