1) Jazz Acquire the Fabled “Knicks Pick” for Scraps; February 19, 2004
Utah trades Keon Clark and Ben Handlogten to the Phoenix Suns for Tom Gugliotta, two first round draft picks and a second round draft pick.
It’s hard to believe, but the pick that was used to bring Gordon Hayward to the Jazz was acquired all the way back in 2004 when the Jazz were still trying to figure things out in a post-Stockton-to-Malone world. For context, Hayward was in middle school when the deal was made.
It was the ultimate “something for nothing” move. The Jazz moved Clark, a failed experiment who had been banished from the team, and Handlogten, a likeable and hard-working player, if not an NBA-level talent, for the pick that eventually became Utah’s current floor leader.
The Suns had originally acquired the pick from the New York Knicks and, although it was loaded with protections, the one-two punch of Scott Layden and Isiah Thomas (with help from injuries to Allan Houston and Antonio McDyess) pretty much ensured that the Knicks would suck forever. And so the countdown began.
Year after year, the Knicks stumbled through embarrassing seasons. Finally, in 2010, the jig was up–the pick was unprotected. The fabled Knicks pick finally belonged to the Jazz. Although the lottery didn’t quite work out in their favor and the pick fell to No. 9, the Jazz were still able to snag Hayward.
More from The J-Notes
- With the FIBA World Cup over for Simone Fontecchio, it’s clear he deserves minutes for the Utah Jazz
- Best, Worst and Most likely scenarios for the Utah Jazz this season
- Hoops Hype downplays the significance of the Utah Jazz’s valuable assets
- 3 Utah Jazz players who have the most to gain or lose this season
- Former Utah Jazz forward Rudy Gay is a free agent still and it shouldn’t surprise anyone
It was the ultimate long-term play for the Jazz and arguably the best trade deadline deal in team history.