The Utah Jazz just pulled off quite a move, trading three first-round draft picks to get their hands on one potentially game-changing pick from the Phoenix Suns in 2031.
It might sound crazy to give up three picks for one, but there’s a fascinating twist to this deal.
Jazz GM Justin Zanik broke it down during Wednesday’s game against the Thunder, explaining why this trade could be a lot smarter than it looks at first glance.
“We now have another shot at a pick that has a lot of variability,” Zanik told broadcasters Craig Bolerjak and Thurl Bailey. “The three picks we traded have no chance to be the No. 1 pick, and this one does.”
Here’s the thing: those three picks the Jazz gave up? They’re basically leftovers from previous trades involving stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. And they’re not even the best picks – they’re guaranteed to be the lowest-ranked picks among several teams.
But that 2031 pick from Phoenix? It’s completely unprotected. That means if the Suns happen to have a terrible season that year, the Jazz could end up with the top pick in the draft.
The Jazz aren’t exactly going all-in on this one move. They’ve still got 11 first-round picks to play with over the next seven years.
“We’ve always talked about bites at the apple or more swings in the draft, but it is also about the quality of the swings,” Zanik explained. “This is, in my opinion, the most valuable asset on the market right now.”
The Jazz might not be done dealing either. With the NBA trade deadline coming up on February 6, they’ve got several interesting players who could be on the move – including Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, and Collin Sexton.
It’s a bold strategy that won’t pay off for years, but in the unpredictable world of the NBA, sometimes the longest bets are the ones worth taking.
