Jazz brass believes Suns’ 2031 first-round pick is ‘most valuable’ asset on market

Jazz brass believes Suns’ 2031 first-round pick is ‘most valuable’ asset on market

While the rest of the NBA is playing chest, sometimes Danny Ainge’s favorite activity is to play checkers.

The Utah Jazz consolidated their first-round pick treasure chest earlier this week, trading three first-round picks to the Phoenix Suns for their 2031 first-round pick. On paper, it feels like a peculiar move from the Jazz’s perspective. But the Suns’ 2031 first-round pick, depending on their fallout, could be one of the most valuable assets on the market in a few years–or at least the Jazz’s brass thinks as such.

“The way it makes sense for us is that we now have another shot at a pick that has a lot of variability. The three picks we traded have no chance to be the No. 1 pick, and this one does,” Jazz general manager Justin Zanik said earlier this week. “It balances out what we want, but we’ve always talked about bites at the apple or more swings in the draft, but it also is about the quality of the swings, and this is, in my opinion, the most valuable asset on the market right now.”

Justin Zanik talking about the trade: pic.twitter.com/Qz4kqS4dpE

— JP Chunga (@JP_Chunga) January 23, 2025

The Suns acquired the least favorable of first-round picks between the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz in 2025, 2027 and 2029. The Suns’ 2031 first was previously their only available first-round pick for trade, so acquiring three for one gives them more flexibility to facilitate a trade for, say, Jimmy Butler.

It’s difficult to project how a team looks two years from now, let alone six. There’s some risk to that. But Devin Booker will be 34, Bradley Beal 37 while Kevin Durant will likely be retired, barring something unforeseen.

There is also a litany of transactions and decisions the organization will have to make between now and then. But one could assume that as of right now, the Suns won’t be a good team. Thus, making that pick all the more valuable, not the least valuable of three first-round picks that could very well be in the bottom-third of the first round, when the hit rate is considerably lower.

The Jazz also have a bevy of other firsts over the next several drafts; they can’t use them all!

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