Utah Jazz 2018 offseason checklist: Bigs, Burks and wing scoring
By Ryan Aston
A little luck on draft night
Utah has notched multiple major scores on draft night over the years. In the last five alone, the Jazz have picked up two franchise players in Mitchell and Gobert, a high-level (for a moment in time, anyway) scorer in Hood, an upside guy with elite speed, length and defensive instincts in Exum and a starting point guard via trade in George Hill.
To say that they’ve had good luck on draft night is an understatement.
But if Lindsey could pull another rabbit out of his hat with the team’s pick at No. 21 — whether that happens via trade or by catching something other GMs miss in a prospect — it would be a major win for the team.
Luring big-time free agents will always be a challenge in Salt Lake City. So any talent the team can acquire through the draft (or by trading their pick) is a godsend.
And while the Jazz aren’t quite in a cap crunch, they’re not exactly flush with cash. So, if there’s no trade to make using the pick, a good player on a rookie-scale deal is still super helpful. Who knows — Lindsey’s next pick could be the team’s next All-Star in the making.
Next: A shrewd signing