What’s Next For The Utah Jazz After Falling In NBA Draft Lottery?
May 12, 2025, 5:30 PM | Updated: May 13, 2025, 7:36 pm
Utah Jazz CEO Danny Ainge and Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith watch the Utah Jazz play the Oklahoma City Thunder in their final NBA home game of the season at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 11, 2025. The Jazz lost 145-111. (Photo courtesy of Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
(Photo courtesy of Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The odds were not in favor of the Jazz in Chicago as Utah fell as far as possible in the NBA Draft Lottery on Monday.
With the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, what will the Utah Jazz look to do this summer and next season?
The 2025 #NBADraftLottery presented by State Farm Results! pic.twitter.com/rk5R8IVurT
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2025
Possible Routes For The Utah Jazz
There are two paths for the Jazz: Call them desperation and dedication.
In reality, the NBA is wildly unpredictable, proven by the Mavericks jumping 10 spots to win the lottery, and there are many routes the Jazz could take. But for the sake of simplicity, we’ll just go with two.
Fight To Minimize Losses
With a boatload of draft assets, young players, and expiring contracts, the Jazz are well-positioned to make some noise in the trade market.
That could look like moving up the draft board or finally going “big game hunting,” as teased by Utah’s front office in recent years. Unfortunately, it would be nearly impossible to make a home run. They’d be looking at a triple at best.
Dallas’ first overall pick is one of the most untouchable assets in the NBA right now, and Utah would need a pick higher than fifth to get interest in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.
AKA: It isn’t going to happen. If you have the first pick, you draft Flagg and thank your lucky stars. End of story.
— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) May 12, 2025
With that said, moving up to second or third is definitely a possibility. Utah could also absolutely put together a competitive trade package for players like Kevin Durant, Trae Young, Domantas Sabonis, Zion Williamson, and LaMelo Ball.
The problem with this route is glaring. The Jazz’s biggest strength as a franchise is its flexibility. Is it worth letting go of considerable assets to get marginally better? Probably not.
Accept Defeat, Fully Commit To The Bit
The painful, but likely smarter, option would be to run it back.
And maybe this time, you go all in. It’s hard to say that the Jazz didn’t do that after finishing with the worst record in the NBA, but they could move on from the likes of Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, and John Collins.
The youth movement last year was relatively forced, with veterans missing considerable time, especially late in the season.
The Jazz could use the fifth pick, trade veterans, and go through another developmental season until a true championship-caliber star comes to light.
5️⃣, 2️⃣1️⃣, 4️⃣3️⃣ & 5️⃣3️⃣
We’re just over a month out from the 2025 #NBADraft and here’s where we’ll be drafting come June 25!#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/r2Ac8jXt0p
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) May 12, 2025
A potential trade could be for Damian Lillard, who Utah could get for a few veterans and minimal draft capital. Lillard will be out next year rehabbing an injury, which would allow the Jazz to go all-in.
This would also open the door for young players currently on the roster to blossom with more opportunity.
In Conclusion
Although Utah’s streak of lottery misfortune continued, the good news is that the franchise still has some level of control over its future. Some NBA teams, like Phoenix and Milwaukee, can’t say the same.
Truthfully, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of decisions the Jazz could make, but these seem like the most realistic outcomes.
The Jazz could even combine the two by trading up in the draft, but not going so far that they handicap themselves in the future. The fall in the draft was unfortunate, but far from devastating.
