The J-Notes
Fansided

Three reasons the Utah Jazz won the Donovan Mitchell trade

By Jonah Kubicek

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 12: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz battles for a rebound with Lauri Markkanen #24 and Lamar Stevens #8 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half of their game January 12, 2022 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 12: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz battles for a rebound with Lauri Markkanen #24 and Lamar Stevens #8 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half of their game January 12, 2022 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /
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Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz poised to make pick in second round of 2022 NBA Draft (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports) /

The Jazz have oh so many picks

Over the next seven seasons, the Jazz has 14 total first-round draft picks. That is absolute insanity. In some seasons (2023, 2025, 2027) they have three picks, which could be packaged in a trade so they can move up in the draft and get their guy.

The Jazz have a solid young core in Sexton, Markkanen, Agbaji, Butler, and the recent acquisitions from the Timberwolves. They are missing a superstar, although reasons stand that they’ll find one very, very soon and first-year head coach Will Hardy can develop the franchise savior as he sees fit.

The Thunder, Wizards, Pistons, Spurs, and Rockets have all gone through or are going through similar rebuilds, but they went from top-tier teams to middling teams, to cellar dwellers over the span of years. The Jazz were bonafide contenders up until last season, and by 2023 they could have a solid cast and a rookie like Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson to put them over the top.

Basically, they could start and finish a rebuild before teams with a head start even make the playoffs again.

Next. Did the Jazz win the Rudy Gobert trade. dark

With 14 picks as of now, the Jazz could keep moving. Beasly, Clarkson, Conley, and Bogdanovic could all be on the trade block, and that number could go up. Three picks are less than what the Jazz asked for, but with two swaps and those three picks, Utah controls Cleveland’s draft approach for the next five seasons. Six picks would have been better, sure, but those would have had a lot of protections and may have eventually slid to the second round. Utah currently has more picks than anyone else, and there is no reason they cannot add to their pile.

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