Could the Utah Jazz get the first overall pick in 2023?

If the Utah Jazz are serious about tanking, they need to part ways with Donovan Mitchell sooner rather than later. Even with zero supporting cast, the All-Star could easily win enough games by himself to keep the Jazz out of the high lottery.

Unfortunately for the pro-tank crowd, Mitchell does currently have an elite supporting cast with Patrick Beverly, Mike Conley, Jared Butler, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jordan Clarkson, and Bojan Bogdanovic. If the Jazz were to trade some role players away, then maybe they could somehow rebuild with Donovan Mitchell.

Utah Jazz: How to stumble onto the first overall pick

The Jazz have never drafted first overall in their entire franchise history. Now would be the time, as the prize, next summer is French phenom Victor Wembanyama, a seven-foot sharpshooter with insane handles. Outside of Zion Williamson and LeBron James, there has never been a prospect this hyped in my lifetime. He is also the highest touted European prospect ever and is well worth throwing away a season for.

So how do the Jazz manage to draft him? The team holds their own pick, the Timberwolves’ pick, and the least favorable of Houston, Brooklyn, or Philadelphia’s pick in the upcoming draft. Reasonable trade capital includes Mitchell, Clarkson, Beverly, Conley, and Bogdanovic.

Teams looking to land Wembanyama include San Antonio, Orlando, Houston, Detroit, and Oklahoma City. Any team looking to tank does not want to add Donovan Mitchell, as he has four years left on his contract. Only a contending team would want him. The only way the Jazz could possibly dream of getting the first overall pick next year is by losing a ton of games, acquiring as many picks as possible in the upcoming draft, and then hope the draft lottery goes their way.