After finishing with the league’s fourth-worst record, the Utah Jazz hoped to move up in the draft after Tuesday night’s lottery but instead found themselves moving down a spot, which was very disappointing, according to Aaron Falk of The Salt Lake Tribune.
"he Utah Jazz and their fans endured so many losses throughout the season, a year of rebuilding with the promise of better times ahead. On Tuesday evening, weeks after the regular season had drawn to its close, the Jazz suffered yet another setback. A record of 25-57 this year gave the Jazz the fourth-best chance at winning the top overall pick in the draft. But with the Cleveland Cavaliers leapfrogging everyone in Tuesday’s NBA draft lottery to claim the top pick for the third time in four years, the Jazz were bumped back."
Of course, it isn’t all bad. The Jazz own the 23rd and 35th pick as well.
According to Jody Genessy of The Dessert News, the Jazz may try to package those three picks to move up in the draft.
Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey said the team will perhaps try to aggregate picks 5, 23 and/or 35 to trade up.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) May 21, 2014
Unless a team ahead of them covets a player they know will be available at five (former Kentucky Wildcats’ power forward Julius Randle, perhaps?), it is tough to see a team making a deal.