Currently armed with the Nos. 5 and 21 picks in the first round this year, the Jazz appear to be at least exploring multiple trades heading into the 2025 draft.
Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune unpacks a few potential trades that Utah brass has at least discussed on Thursday’s installment of the Locked On Jazz podcast.
Larsen suggests that the Jazz have had preliminary conversations with the Lakers about a Walker Kessler or John Collins trade, the Mavericks about a Collin Sexton deal, and the Sixers regarding a possible trade up for the No. 3 pick, among other potential exchanges.
A deal for the Philadelphia selection could come at a steep price.
“I do think it’s true that the Philadelphia 76ers are interested in trading down to No. 5 potentially if they can get off the Paul George deal,” Larsen said. “That may not make sense given how long that contract is and how I think Paul George was [last year], I don’t think the Jazz are going to take that offer, but do think that’s an offer that’s been presented.”
While those chats about possible deals have transpired, none are necessarily nearing fruition just yet, Larsen tweets.
There’s more out of Utah:
The Jazz’s G League affiliate squad, the Salt Lake City Stars, has officially announced (Twitter link) that Rick Higgins will serve as the club’s sixth head coach. Higgins has most recently been a Jazz assistant coach under Will Hardy for the past two years. “I’m looking forward to taking on this opportunity to lead the Stars and continuing within the Jazz organization,” Higgins said in a team press release. “The Stars play a critical role in the development structure of the Jazz and I plan to continue to build on the team’s successes, preparing players for the next level.”
Back in the lottery for a third straight season and armed with new team president Austin Ainge, the Jazz face several big decisions this offseason, as Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron details in his Utah summer preview (Substack link). Utah is currently $23MM below the league’s luxury tax. Gozlan observes that the Jazz could try to package together their two first round draft picks this year, or could look to offload some of the surplus of future picks they possess through 2032. Gozlan notes that Utah could also look to trade one-time All-Star Lauri Markkanen, despite a 2024 contrat extension.
Ahead of this year’s draft, the Jazz recently worked out one-and-done Duke center Khaman Maluach, sources have informed Tony Jones of The Athletic (via Twitter). Kessler, of course, is the club’s incumbent starter at the position. The 7’2″ big man is one of the best-regarded prospects this year and considered a probable lottery selection. Across 39 healthy games for the Blue Devils in 2024/25, the 18-year-old averaged 8.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 1.3 BPG.