Jazz Pick Traded To OKC From Memphis, Used To Select Darius Bazley
Jun 20, 2019, 8:20 PM | Updated: 9:17 pm
NBA Draft prospects Kevin Porter Jr., Nicolas Claxton, Sekou Doumbouya, Goga Bitazde, Keldon Johnson, Nassir Little, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Rui Hachimuri, Jarrett Culver, Cam Reddish, Coby White, Zion Williamson, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Ja Morant, De'Andre Hunter, Darius Garland, Brandon Clarke, Romeo Langford, Jaxson Hayes, Tyler Herro, Bol Bol, PJ Washington, Matisse Thybulle and Mfiondu Kabengele stand on stage with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver before the start of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The 23rd overall pick, which belonged to Utah, traded hands twice and ended up with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With the selection, the Thunder picked Darius Bazley, who had an usual route to the NBA.
Bazley was expected to come out of high school and be selected by the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League with the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA G League Draft. However, Bazley decided to withdraw from the draft and instead took a year long, million dollar internship with the shoe company, New Balance, in lieu of playing collegiately, abroad or in the G League.
Prior to his internship in 2018-19, Bazley starred at the high school level, earning five star recruit status at Princeton High School in Cincinnati. He committed to Syracuse before turning his attention to the G League and then to training on his own while working at New Balance.
With the 23rd pick, we have selected Darius Bazley. pic.twitter.com/PxWgmFCCq6
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) June 21, 2019
While he decided to turn down the chance to play for the Jazz organization last year, Bazley getting picked by the team on Thursday. He won’t suit for Utah, however, and is headed to play for the Thunder.
The pick began the week in Utah’s possession before being traded to Memphis as part of a deal for veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr. on Wednesday. The pick was later traded minutes before its announcement to Oklahoma City in exchange for the 21st overall pick, which became Gonzaga’s Brandon Clarke, and a second round pick in 2024.
Oklahoma City will get the No. 23 pick tonight and a 2024 second-round pick in the trade, league source tells ESPN. https://t.co/4qVdrV6mOP
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2019
The Conley trade will not be made official until July 6th, therefore the selection will not be moved until then.
The Jazz currently hold just one pick in the draft, the 53rd overall in the second round. The draft is being broadcast on ESPN.
