2) Jazz Acquire the Fabled Knicks Pick; February 19, 2004
Utah deals Keon Clark and Ben Handlogten to the Phoenix Suns for Tom Gugliotta, two first-round draft picks and a second-round draft pick.
People tend to forget that the pick that was used to bring All-Star Gordon Hayward to the Jazz was actually acquired back in 2004 when the Jazz were still figuring things out after the Stockton-to-Malone era had finally come to an end.
For context, Hayward was still in middle school when that deal was made.
In the end, it became one of the NBA’s ultimate “something for nothing” moves. It was also arguably the best move Kevin O’Connor ever made. The Jazz dealt Clark, who was no longer part of the team, and Handlogten, a likeable guy and a hard worker (if not an NBA-level talent), for the pick that would one day become Utah’s floor leader.
The Suns originally acquired the pick from the New York Knicks. Although it was loaded with protections, the one-two combo of Scott Layden and Isiah Thomas, as well as injuries to Allan Houston and Antonio McDyess, pretty much ensured that the Knicks would suck forever. So the countdown was on.
Year after year, the Knicks struggled through embarrassing seasons (not unlike the Knicks of today). Finally, in 2010, the time had come to pay the piper–the pick was unprotected. After years of waiting, the fabled Knicks pick belonged to the Jazz.
The lottery didn’t quite work out in their favor and the pick fell all the way to No. 9, but that pick became Hayward. Proof positive that good things come to those who wait.
Next: Jazz Get AD