Why the Jazz landing the No. 2 pick is a franchise-changing moment

On May 10th, 2026, the Utah Jazz won the No. 2 pick at the NBA Draft Lottery. Marking the first time in Jazz history they’ve moved up in the lottery, it’s been a little over two weeks since the Jazz were able to move up. If I’m being honest, I don’t think Jazz fans are excited enough. This draft class, as you already should know, is truly special, and for the Jazz to land the No. 2 pick this year with everything else they’ve accumulated truly is a franchise-changing moment.

The Jazz have finished last place in the Western Conference two years in a row now. They haven’t made the playoffs since Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were still leading the team during the 2021-2022 season. The Jazz haven’t made the Western Conference Finals since the 2006-2007 season, falling to the Spurs 4-1. And of course we all know the story of how John Stockton and Karl Malone fell to Michael Jordan and the Bulls in ’97 and ’98. Losing two Finals back-to-back is brutal, and the truth is being a Jazz fan has really only ever brought pain and suffering, but I believe it’s all about to pay off.

While the Jazz did finish last in the Western Conference the past two seasons, you’d be blind to ignore the trajectory the team is currently riding. And let’s be completely honest, if the Jazz actually tried to win last season they probably could’ve slid in as an 8th seed via the play-in. Fortunately they did the right thing, choosing to play for the draft pick. The worst-case scenario for the Jazz in the lottery would’ve been picking 8th. Even in that hypothetical, the Jazz would’ve almost certainly been a top 6 seed next year in an already loaded Western Conference, with Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen, and Jaren Jackson Jr. leading the way, Walker Kessler likely returning, and an emerging Ace Bailey by his side. That would’ve been more than enough to get the Jazz back into the fight in the West, but finally the lottery gods blessed the Jazz — not with the No. 4, not No. 3, but No. 2!!! In a draft class where it’s truly 1A, 1B, and 1B might just be the best player in the class! That’s not the point of…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/why-jazz-landing-no-2-222955682.html

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Publish date : 2026-05-26 22:29:00

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