As the 2023 NBA Draft quickly approaches, the Utah Jazz have to be among the most intriguing teams to watch.
Even though they have supreme flexibility with three first-round picks, they could use them in a myriad of ways. Without question, trading up or down will be an option for the Jazz at the draft. When it comes to trading up, there are two options (or spots) where they could theoretically move up or down.
They could use draft capital to trade up from No. 9, perhaps between the 3-8 spots, or elect to trade up from No. 28 in the 20-17 spots. They do have the No. 16 pick, but there are prospects that they could target in the 20-27 range that won’t necessarily make sense at No. 16. For those potential targets, the Jazz could view them as trade-up or trade-down options.
Either way, we’ll explore seven prospects that the Jazz should be willing to trade up (or even down) for in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Utah Jazz trade targets at the 2023 NBA Draft
Trade-up option: Scoot Henderson
It should really come as no surprise to see Scoot Henderson on this list. If there’s a scenario in which the Jazz could package their three first-round picks in this year’s draft to move up to a spot where they could draft Scoot, they should.
However, I don’t believe that’s something the Charlotte Hornets, who own the No. 2 overall pick, would be interested in, and short of the Jazz including Lauri Markkanen in the deal, the Portland Trail Blazers, with the No. 3 overall pick, would pass.
At least on paper, Scoot has everything you want from a potential face of the franchise. That said, he may be a little out of the Jazz’s realistic trade-up range.
Trade-down option: Gradey Dick
If the Utah Jazz were looking to find a difference-making sharpshooter in the NBA Draft, Gradey Dick is probably the best option in the lottery. Coming off a freshman season in which he averaged 14 points and five rebounds on 44 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent shooting from 3-point range, it’s easy to see why he’d be a target for a team that needs an efficient scorer and, specifically, an accurate long-range shooter.
But with the recent tumble that Dick has made over the past few weeks, there’s a chance that the Jazz could trade down a few spots (from the No. 9 pick) and still get their shooter. The Dallas Mavericks are unlikely to target Dick with the No. 10 pick. If the Jazz wanted to move down a couple of spots to acquire an additional second-round pick or two, they could and still might be able to snag Dick.
If the Jazz are sold on making Dick their first selection in the first round, it would be almost malpractice for them to pick him with the No. 9 selection. Trading down for Dick seems like a safe possibility.
Trade-up option: Amen Thompson
In what could end up being a more realistic option for the Utah Jazz heading into the 2023 NBA Draft, trading up to No. 4 or 5 to possibly take Amen Thompson could be in the cards for the team. Depending on where Thompson ends up falling, the Jazz should at the very least be open to the possibility of making a move for Thompson. If there’s a non-Scoot Henderson player that the Jazz should be willing to go all-in for, it’s Thompson.
Even though Thompson is considered as much more of a development project, he has superstar potential that not many other prospects in this NBA Draft have. If every prospect in this year’s NBA Draft class reaches their ceiling, you can make the argument that Thompson would end up being a top-3 player. That’s how high of a ceiling Thompson has coming in. All that said, he’s far from a guarantee. And that’s something that could keep teams from selecting him so high in this draft.
If Thompson falls to No. 5, which seems unlikely, the Jazz should be ready with an offer. Especially considering the Detroit Pistons are exploring trade-down options.
Trade-down option: Keyonte George
Another prospect that the Utah Jazz could have their eye on, especially considering that they’re likely to move on from Jordan Clarkson this summer, is Keyonte George. As somewhat of a volume scorer during his lone season at Baylor, George does have the natural scoring ability from the shooting guard position that would be of interest to the Jazz.
And with how much George’s draft stock has changed from the end of the college basketball season to now, there’s a strong chance that the Jazz can trade down from No. 9 to still land him. Especially considering the team already has three first-round picks.
The Baylor product is yet another one of the prospects in this year’s NBA Draft class who’s unpredictable as to where he’ll land. There have been mocks that have George being selected in the top 10 and then some with him falling out of the lottery. I think it’s safe to say that he’ll be selected in the 12–15 range. The Jazz could theoretically trade back down a few spots (add another asset or two) and still get their target.
During his freshman season at Baylor, George averaged 15 points, four rebounds, and three assists on 38 percent shooting from the field.
Trade-down option: Kobe Bufkin
Assuming that the Utah Jazz are going to address the guard position with one of their first-round picks, Kobe Bufkin has to be considered a name that the team is looking at. Bufkin is somewhat of a late riser in this year’s NBA Draft class but could end up being selected late in the lottery. And if the Jazz wanted to move down from the No. 9 spot, they could theoretically trade down a few spots and still land Bufkin in the 12–16 range.
Bufkin is a 6-foot-5 guard who made quite an improvement from his freshman to sophomore seasons at Michigan. Bufkin averaged 14 points, five rebounds, and three assists per game on 48 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent shooting from 3-point range before declaring for the NBA. As a strong two-way prospect, Bufkin’s ceiling is quite high as he prepares to make the jump to the NBA. If the Jazz believe in their developmental system, Bufkin is a player that would make sense for the team late in the lottery.
Bufkin fills an area of need for the Jazz and also gives the team a high-ceiling prospect that they could continue to build with. If the Jazz are able to trade down and still land Bufkin, that’d be a huge win in the first round.
Trade-up option: Cam Whitmore
It’s somewhat confusing as to why there isn’t more hype surrounding Cam Whitmore heading into the NBA Draft. Whitmore has all the tools you want in a potential star. He’s one of the best athletes in this year’s class, has the potential to be one of the most versatile wings in this draft class, and doesn’t have many holes in his game. He averaged 13 points and five rebounds per game on 48 percent shooting from the field and 34 percent shooting from 3-point range.
Across the board, there are many things to like about Whitmore and his potential. If the Jazz wanted to make a trade-up splash that didn’t involve one of the top point guard prospects, Whitmore would be the move. He would fill a role as the small forward of the future for the team, and the Jazz wouldn’t theoretically have to move up that high to land Whitmore.
The Jazz could move up to No. 7 and probably still land Whitmore. And that is unlikely to be all that costly for the Jazz. They could probably get away with dangling the No. 16 pick and second pick to move up a few spots in the first round to snag Whitmore.
Trade-down option: Nick Smith Jr.
A last possible trade-down target for the Utah Jazz in the first round could include a move for Nick Smith Jr. At least in my opinion, this could also be viewed as one of the most intriguing options for the Jazz. While you could make the argument for the Jazz taking Smith with the No. 9 overall pick, they could probably move a few spots down and still take Smith if that’s the player that they truly want to target in the first round.
Smith is supremely talented. If it weren’t for the injuries that he had to battle through during his freshman season at Arkansas, he’d probably be a top 5 selection, at least, in this year’s NBA Draft. But because of those concerns, there’s a chance that Smith falls out of the lottery completely, which would be ideal for Utah heading towards the draft.
That’s where a team like the Jazz can take advantage. If the Jazz viewed Smith as the point guard of the future, they shouldn’t hesitate to select him. However, if there’s a chance that they could trade down from No. 9 and still get him, that’s something the Jazz should absolutely explore next week.