Jazz Stand Pat In Lottery, Will Draft Ninth
May 16, 2023, 6:25 PM | Updated: May 17, 2023, 11:45 am
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz were unable to beat the lottery odds and will own the ninth pick in the upcoming 2023 NBA Draft.
The Jazz had a 20.2 percent chance of moving into the top four picks in the draft after finishing the season 37-45, but lady luck was not on their side.
The San Antonio Spurs earned the top overall pick, in the process winning the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes. The French phenom is widely regarded as the best draft prospect since LeBron James with the chance to propel the franchise into championship territory.
The @utahjazz will own the ninth pick in the NBA draft.
They failed to move up in the lottery.#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/a63LC1Rg1Q
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 17, 2023
Jazz Own Ninth Pick
The Jazz entered the night with a 50.8 percent chance of selecting ninth, and a 29 percent chance of getting jumped by at least one team ranked 10-14, but avoided the latter.
Though moving up would have been ideal, the 2023 draft is considered a relatively deep draft and there should be talent on the board at nine.
🎶 Heading into the 2023 NBA Draft with 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 picks 🎶#TakeNote | #NBADraftLottery pic.twitter.com/xjiCZ1cpr2
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) May 17, 2023
If Jazz brain trust Danny Ainge and Justin Zanik identified a player they liked higher in the lottery, they’ll likely have the firepower to move up in the draft to select them.
In addition to their own ninth pick, the Jazz also own the 16th pick via the Minnesota Timberwolves and the 28th pick via the Philadelphia 76ers.
History Of The Ninth Pick
This is not the first time the Jazz have selected ninth in the NBA draft.
In 2013, the Jazz acquired the ninth pick from the Timberwolves to select Michigan point guard Trey Burke.
In 2010 the Jazz used the pick, owed to them via the New York Knicks to select future All-Star Gordon Hayward.
The NBA Draft is fast approaching, and we're breaking down the top prospects on the board.
Here are the scouting reports for all of the names you need to know.#TakeNote | @utahjazz https://t.co/oSnjjz9GZc
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 11, 2023
Other notable ninth-overall picks in NBA history include All-Stars Kemba Walker, DeMar DeRozan, Joakim Noah, Andre Iguodala, Amare Stoudamire, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki, and Tracy McGrady.
The draft will be held on June 22 at Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops or on Instagram @BensHoops.
