The Utah Jazz are one of six teams in the NBA that have never had a No.1 pick. This year, they have the best odds of landing the No.1 spot. The NBA flattened the odds for the worst three teams in the league several years ago. The Jazz, the Washington Wizards, and the Charlotte Hornets all have a 14% chance at drafting first. But if we look at Utah Jazz draft history, the current leadership has had some hiccups.
Utah Jazz Draft History: Biggest Misses in Last 15 Years
The Jazz began their full rebuild mode when they traded Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert in the same offseason. Since then, they have had two lottery picks, but both look like busts. To make matters worse, they could have had better players drafted at that spot. This will be the third consecutive year they pick in the lottery. After missing on their pick in the last two drafts, this time they have to make it work. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the biggest hiccups in the Jazz’s draft history, specifically in the last 15 years.
Enes Kanter: 2011
The Utah Jazz were the only team with not one, but two chances to draft Kawhi Leonard in 2011. They had the No.3 pick and the No.12 pick. They could have also had Klay Thompson, who went at No.11. Granted, Kawhi or Klay at No. 3 would have been a reach.
Instead, the Jazz drafted Enes Kanter at No.3 and Alec Burks at No.12. This is not to say that Kanter was not a good player. He had a period from 2013-14 to 2017-18 when he looked like a good, serviceable big. Burks, on the other hand, was never more than a role player and became a journeyman playing for eight different teams. Now, Kanter was not a bust like Darko Milicic. But he was another European big man that teams were intrigued by, who didn’t pan out.
Shabazz Muhammad/Trey Burke: 2013
The Jazz made a trade in 2013 to move up and draft a potential superstar. Before the 2013 draft, experts thought Trey Burke might be a good prospect, someone with a similar game to Damian Lillard. So, the Jazz packed their 14th pick and 21st pick to get Burke. Just one pick after Shabazz Muhammad, the Milwaukee Bucks drafted a long-term prospect, and they won a title with him several years later. Giannis Antetokounmpo could have been a Jazz. He might not have won a title in Utah, but he would certainly do better than Burke. At the time, teams around the league were happy to draft undersized point guards because Steph Curry and Lillard were making waves.
Dante Exum: 2014
The Utah Jazz had Burke and Burks and still selected Dante Exum with the No. 5 pick, and then Rodney Hood with the 23rd pick in 2014. Not that the picks after Exum were superstar talents, but they could have gotten Marcus Smart, a player who won a DPOY. Maybe even Zach LaVine, a strong offensive player. Or Julius Randle, who would go on to make multiple All-Star teams. Exum never averaged double-digits during his career. He did have a successful stint in Europe, playing for Partizan. But in the NBA, he never proved to be a serviceable player.
Trey Lyles: 2015
After missing out on Randle as a power forward in 2014, the Utah Jazz decided to go big in 2015. They selected Trey Lyles, a guy who was part of an amazing Kentucky team. That Kentucky team was stacked, and Lyles played out of position. But the Jazz should have gotten another Kentucky guy, Devin Booker, who was drafted after Lyles.
Now, the Jazz were not the only team to miss that year. Teams ahead drafted Jahlil Okafor (lasted seven years in the league), Mario Hezonja (lasted five years), Willie Cauley-Stein (lasted seven years), or Emmanuel Mudiay (lasted six years). Yet, if the Jazz scouted Kentucky that year, Booker was the second-best option, right after Karl-Anthony Towns, who went No.1 overall.
Taylor Hendricks: 2023
Looking at the Jazz’s draft history, it seems like every good player gets drafted one spot after the Jazz pick. They picked one before Giannis and Booker. Now, this is not to say that the guy drafted after Taylor Hendricks will be a superstar.
At the same time, we have to look at Hendricks and how he completely tanked his second season. At the same time, Cason Wallace is playing a vital role on a 60+ win team in Oklahoma City and making an impact. Wallace was picked 10th, and Hendricks 9th. Dereck Lively III was drafted 11th. However, the Jazz had success with their second first-round pick in the 2023 draft. Keyonte George looks like a great player, one who is ready to put in the work to improve.
Cody Williams: 2024
Last year, the Utah Jazz had another lottery pick, their second consecutive. But again, they picked the wrong guy. They got Cody Williams at 10, while Matas Buzelis went 11th. Both were playing for a team without chances for the playoffs. While Buzelis had a great stretch after the trade deadline, Williams finished the season shooting 32% from the floor. Kel’el Ware was also available, and he was one of the better rookies of the 2024 draft class.
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