The Utah Jazz sit at the bottom of the NBA’s Western Conference for a few reasons. First, the lack of talent hurts. Players win games, and victories become scarce if the talent does not exist. On top of that, Utah, as an aesthetic aspect, does not appear welcoming to prospective players. However, things aren’t all bad in Salt Lake City.
Believe it or not, Danny Ainge, Jazz CEO of Basketball Ops, could find a way to bring Duke stars Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach to Utah. The Jazz have two 2025 first-round draft picks and two apiece in 2026/2027 via swaps with Cleveland and Minnesota. So, the potential exists. The Jazz, with a move of draft wizardry, could land the trio.
Jazz Have Possibility to Draft Superstar Duke Trio
Utah’s Possibility of Selecting Cooper Flagg
The presumptive No. 1 Pick sits right there for the Jazz. Provided that Utah wins the first pick, Flagg becomes a certainty to move to Salt Lake City. One of the best players in college basketball would take over the team and become the focal point. NBA Draftroom articulates what Flagg brings to the table.
“On the offensive end, he’s a versatile and skilled player with great touch on his jumper, on floaters, and a knack for putting the ball in the basket. He scores from 3 levels and can hit the 3pt shot, although still has some work to do to get more consistent and become a true knockdown shooter. ”
“Cooper plays with an edge, intensity, and attitude. He’s the type of player who is equally comfortable fitting into the flow of the offense or taking over the game when needed. His intensity is on full display on the defensive end and his aggressive transition game.”
The 2025 NBA Draft will be held on Wednesday, June 25 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The lottery to determine the order will be held a month earlier on May 12th.
Utah’s Possibility of Selecting Kon Knueppel
With Flagg probably in the fold, Utah needs an outside shooter to complement the franchise player. Granted, the Jazz do possess another first-round pick, the 21st.
In all honesty, Knueppel profiles as a late-lottery/mid-first-round draft pick. Ainge could ship Markkanen and the 21st pick to move up to select the Duke shooter. NBA Draftroom slots Knueppel sixth to the Nets.
“Knueppel is a big-bodied, sweet-shooting wing with a legit NBA skill in his shooting ability. He’s mainly a below-the-rim player and isn’t a big-time athlete by NBA standards, but has size, strength, and a really nice touch from mid-range and from deep.”
“He uses his size well to bump defenders off balance and create space for his shot. While he might not be a primary scoring option in the NBA, he’ll bring a lot of value to an NBA team with his shooting gravity.”
To make this wish feasible, maybe throw in a lottery-protected pick and absorb an expiring contract.
Utah’s Possibility of Selecting Khaman Maluach
Before the Final Four, many pictured the 7’2″ as a borderline top-five selection. However, in Duke’s National Semifinal loss to Houston, Maluach, in 21 minutes, scored six points, yet failing to pull down a single rebound, the form of the Blue Devils’ toughness fell into question.
RELATED: Duke’s Khaman Maluach Faces Tough NBA Draft Decision Amid Visa Complications
As a result, Utah can send Collin Sexton and a pick or two for yet another first-round selection. Meanwhile, is Maluach worth it? NBA Draftroom believes so.
“Maluach is an incredibly impressive athlete for a young 7-footer. He’s quick, agile, and mobile and changes ends well. He plays above the rim with ease and is a major factor in the paint on both ends of the floor. His offensive game is still raw, but he shows nice flashes. ”
“He can step out and hit the 3-ball, but is far from a knockdown shooter at this point. He’s got good form and shows plenty of promise as a floor spacer. He alters a ton of shots on defense and has an impact that doesn’t always show up in the stat sheet. ”
While not completely out of pocket, the Utah Jazz will need to ship a truckload of picks and players to make this possible. It all depends on Danny Ainge what he thinks. The Duke trio could make history in 2025.
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