KeeleSports: Utah Jazz 2022 Offseason 4 Options: Option 4

After losing to the Mavericks in the 1st round of the playoffs, the Utah Jazz must face reality: they are not a Tier 1 team and they are not going to get better with time. They must make a big change.

And they only have four options:

Option 1: Fix their biggest problems while keeping Rudy Gobert & Donovan Mitchell (if possible). READ HERE

Option 2: Trade Rudy Gobert & do a mini-rebuild around Donovan Mitchell. READ HERE

Option 3: Trade Donovan Mitchell for an aging superstar for ~2 year championship window (if possible). READ HERE

Option 4: Tank.

Option 4: Tank to get the player you want and bribe the commissioner to make sure you get the #1 overall draft pick.

Comp: 1996-97 San Antonio Spurs / 2002-03 Cleveland Cavaliers

In the 1996-97 NBA season, David Robinson was recovering from a fractured foot. After it healed in January, he played six game, then the Spurs shut him down for the rest of the season. They were horrible the rest of the season and ended up getting the #1 overall pick - Tim Duncan. They finished 13th in the West (they were the 2nd seed in the West the year before).

In the 2002-2003 NBA season, the Cleveland Cavaliers finished season with a record of 17-65, their worst record since 1982. Just in time to get the #1 overall pick so they could draft Cleveland native LeBron James.

The Utah Jazz have NEVER had the #1 overall pick, and they had the #2 pick just one time (1980 - Darrell Griffith).

Maybe it's time to change that?

If the Jazz can't get to where they want to be this offseason through Option 1, Option 2, or Option 3, then it's time to tank.

And honestly, 2022-23 is shaping up to be a pretty good year to tank.

First of all, there's not many tanking teams this year. The Thunder will be tanking again. Same with the Rockets. Probably the Magic. Maybe the Knicks? I don't think the Pistons will take this season. Aka: the Utah Jazz would easily be a bottom 4 team in the NBA this year if they trade their vets for future picks.

Secondly, This is supposedly a deep draft class. Is projected #1 Victor Wembanyama "that dude"? Is he a Tim Duncan or LeBron James can't miss player? Is it worth throwing away a season to try for him? Are there other franchise-caliber players in this class?

Does tanking even work?

6 out of 8 playoff teams say yes.

6 of the 8 current playoff teams have a player they drafted in the top #3 since 2014!

The Phoenix Suns starting center Deandre Ayton was the 2018 #1 overall pick.
The Dallas Mavericks best player Luka Doncic was the 2018 #3 pick.
The Memphis Grizzlies best player Ja Morant was the 2019 #2 pick and their 2nd best player Jaren Jackson Jr. was the 2018 #4 pick.
The Boston Celtics best player Jayson Tatum was the 2017 #3 pick and their 2nd best player Jaylen Brown was the 2016 #3 pick .
The Philadelphia 76ers best player Joel Embiid was the #3 pick in 2014. And their second best player James Harden they got by trading their 2016 #1 overall pick Ben Simmons.
The Warriors tanked just two years ago and got James Wiseman with the #2 overall pick.

Whereas the Utah Jazz haven't had a top 4 draft pick since 2011 (when they blew it on Enes Kanter) and in 2005 (Deron Williams - the last guy to take the Jazz to the Western Conference Finals).

I think it is safe to say that Tanking can be an effective long term strategy.