Jazz Sitting in Driver’s Seat to Retain Protected 2024 1st-Round Pick

Things are all going according to plan for the Utah Jazz down the stretch.

Despite the Utah Jazz rattling off a rough recent stretch, going 2-8 within their last ten matchups, their long-term future is beginning to look a bit more positive as their 2023-24 season starts to wrap up. With around 20 games left in the regular season, the team is now in a prime position to retain their first-round pick for this summer.

The Jazz are entering this summer with a bit of added risk concerning the security of their 2024 draft selection. Their first-rounder is in the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder due to their previous Derrick Favors salary dump, protected 1-10, meaning if Utah fell 11th or further come lottery time, they would not retain the rights to their pick.

However, the situation is starting to look up for the Jazz. Per Tankathon, Utah's lottery odds now land 9th in the league, falling within the protection window.

Per Tankathon.com

Throughout the majority of this year, they've landed outside of the top ten and were inevitably projected to lose their pick, but their post-All-Star performance has since switched up their outlook. Having the ability to own a lottery pick in this summer's draft would prove to be a massive benefit for the Jazz as they'd be able to add to their already impressive core of young talent.

The Houston Rockets (L10: 4-6) and Atlanta Hawks (L10: 5-5) have been marginally better than Utah across recent weeks and have since leaped ahead. The Rockets don't hold the rights to their first-round pick this summer, and the Hawks are in the middle of the Eastern Conference Play-In hunt, both of which helping the Jazz's prospects.

Heading into the final quarter of the season at hand, watching where the Jazz end up landing within the league standings will be a critical storyline to focus on as this front office continues this meticulous rebuild process.

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