Redoing the 2010s drafts for the Utah Jazz with hindsight

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Dec 28, 2020; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley (7) shoots as Utah Jazz forward Royce O’Neale (23) defends during the second half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Utah won 110-105. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /

2017: Utah picked 24, 30, 42, and 55

Tyler Lydon was picked 24th and immediately traded to Denver. Josh Hart went 30th and Thomas Bryant went 42, but they were traded to the Lakers for Tony Bradley, who was not that good. Their 55th pick, Nigel Williams-Goss, played one forgettable season, which tends to be how 55th picks go. I would have loved to have kept Hard and Bryant instead of getting Tony Bradley, but this is the draft that brought Donovan Mitchell to town via Denver, so it all worked out in the end for the Jazz.

2018: Utah picked 21 and 52

I do not like Grayson Allen, but he was a steal at 21. No one immediately behind him has been as good as he has been, and Devnotae Graham and Gary Trent Jr both went in the early second round, so I can’t reasonably see the Jazz passing on Allen to get either of them. This was a good pick, given who was still there.

Their second-round pick, Vince Edwards, was traded to Houston for cash, and that was probably the best move considering he averaged 1.5 points in the two NBA games he ever played. Shake Milton and Kostas Antetokounmpo were still on the board. Milton is an okay player, but Kostas is in the league based on name alone, despite the fact that he has a ring.

2019: Utah picked 23 and 53

The Jazz used the 23rd overall pick to select Darius Bazley, who was then traded to Memphis with other assets for Mike Conley. Utah could have taken Nassir Little, Keldon Johnson, or Jordan Poole, but that late in the first round it was probably better to play it safe.

With the 53rd pick, Utah took Justin Wright-Foreman, who has only played one season in the NBA, and it was nothing special. Fortunately, no one noteworthy was selected after him.

Next. Three Trades to Improve Defense. dark

When a franchise has a lot of mid-first-round draft picks and uses the only high picks on Enes Freedom and Dante Exum, it’s no wonder they haven’t been able to get over the hump. Utah has found plenty of role players in the draft and traded their way to get two stars (both from Denver) so it’s not like they wasted the decade. That being said, thighs could have gone a lot better and when playing the “what if” game, Utah could have been one of the better teams in the league.