ESPN reporter Chad Ford speculated in a draft chat that the Jazz may have contacted two lottery teams about trading power forward Paul Millsap for a 2012 first-round pick.
Utah lost both of their first-round picks in the 2012 draft when Golden State was awarded the no. 7 pick, and the no. 16 pick was dealt to Minnesota by result of the Jazz earning a playoff seed.
If the Hornets are looking to trade Pick 10 for a young veteran, who are some of the potential targets?
Chad Ford: Darren Collison, Eric Bledsoe, Evan Turner I’ve heard a lot. Ditto for Paul Millsap of the Jazz. By the way, I’m told the Blazers are looking at the same group of players at 11 if they decide to trade the pick.
The Jazz have been looking to trade into the lottery since Golden State received their pick. With a promising talent in Derrick Favors buried on the depth chart, general manager Kevin O’Conner has been active attempting to find a way to clear a roster spot for the young power forward.
A trade into the lottery would allow the Jazz to take the best player available and upgrade their roster with a young player. The Jazz roster already features four players taken in the previous two drafts – Alec Burks, Gordon Hayward, Enes Kanter, and Derrick Favors.
Jazz fans should be hoping that O’Conner can negotiate a trade, giving the Jazz the option to pick up a young point guard like Damian Lillard or Kendall Marshall to help lead the offense for years to come and replace Devin Harris, who has one year remaining on his contract.
Best Draft Options for Jazz at no. 10 or no. 11
- Damian Lillard
- Kendall Marshall
- Austin Rivers
- Perry Jones III
- Tyler Zeller
