Utah Jazz CEO of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said a few weeks ago that he plans to make a big splash to strengthen his team this summer, and they can start doing so via the 2024 NBA Draft.
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This summer, the Utah Jazz have No. 10, 29. and the 32 overall picks, which they can use for a potential trade to get a star player, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
“Utah is expected to explore trading the No. 10 overall pick and the other first-rounders this year, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote. “There’s a belief from some around the league that Utah’s owner, Ryan Smith, would like to add more star talent to the Jazz, and Ainge has aggressively monitored the trade market.”
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Scotto added in his column that if the Utah Jazz couldn’t find any worthwhile trades, they could use the No. 10 pick, in particular, to draft Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht, the reigning SEC Player of the Year.
On the other hand, the Utah Jazz are projected to get UConn Huskies guard Stephon Castle using the said pick in their latest mock draft.
Utah Jazz’s other offseason plans
Other than the 2024 NBA Draft, the Utah Jazz have to decide on the immediate future of forwards Lauri Markkanen and John Collins.
Lauri Markkanen only has one year left on his current deal, and he is eligible for a four-year maximum extension that can earn him up to $200 million.
The Finnish sharpshooter is coming off a solid year for the Utah Jazz, averaging 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game on 48/40/90 shooting splits in 55 regular-season games.
As for John Collins, the Utah Jazz continue to explore the trade market for him. The high-flying forward has two years left on his current contract, including a $26.58 million player option he can exercise for the 2025-26 season.
Collins finished the 2023-24 campaign with averages of 15.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game on 53.2 percent shooting from the field in 66 regular-season games.
