When people think of the Utah Jazz, the first word that comes to mind is "future." The Jazz are in a rebuild, which isn't exactly fun to watch since it requires patience. However, ESPN revealed that because of the plethora of assets the Jazz have, that is their gateway out of irrelevance.
While ranking the five NBA teams with the most future first-round picks, ESPN's Bobby Marks and Jeremy Woo ranked the Jazz third, behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and Brooklyn Nets, while outlining all the assets Utah has.
Marks and Woo laid it all out in the simplest way possible.
Incoming future first-round picks: 11
Future second-round picks: 7
Future outgoing first-round picks: Top-8 protected to Oklahoma City (2026, else a 2028 second-round pick)
Most valuable first: Their own first in 2026 (if 1-8) and 2031 unprotected Phoenix Suns' first
Not only do the Jazz have a high quantity of first-rounders, but they also have some high-quality first-rounders as well. With special attention being paid to that first-round pick the Suns owe them six years from now. For context, the Jazz agreed to swap multiple first-round picks for the Suns' first-round pick, which Phoenix thought at the time would secure them Jimmy Butler.
Not only did it not happen, but because of the Kevin Durant trade and the fact that Phoenix doesn't have many real avenues to get better, that pick will likely look much better in 2031 than it does now. By then, Utah will likely have been over the rebuilding phase, which could make it all the sweeter if they add a golden prospect to a playoff team.
They also have their own top-eight protected pick (it will go to OKC if it falls to nine or lower), which could be the most valuable asset in the NBA as that could be a potential game changer for Utah if they manage to keep their pick in what is expected to be a loaded draft class.
It also may be a failsafe in case some of the other young talent does not develop
The Jazz cut ties with almost every veteran on the roster this offseason, signaling that their main intention is to see who should stick and who should be off the roster. It's likely that not all of the young talent Utah has accumulated since 2023 will be with the team long-term, which should make this experiment fun.
And if they don't, the picks at the Jazz's disposal can make up for having a bust or two on the team. It's also very possible that all of Utah's young players will pan out, but again, don't count on that happening, and if it does, then suddenly the Jazz could become a team much like the reigning champions right now.
The Jazz won't have a winning product this season, but that doesn't mean they don't have a long-term winning formula. It may be a minute before that formula is on the court, but the ingredients are there for Utah to have the best team its seen in ages.