NBA Draft Rumors: Jazz Contacted Pistons, Pacers About Trades; Anthony Black Linked

The Utah Jazz are reportedly considering multiple trade possibilities involving their three first-round picks in Thursday's 2023 NBA draft.

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Jazz have spoken with the Detroit Pistons about trading them the Nos. 9 and 16 overall picks to move up to No. 5 and with the Indiana Pacers about moving up to No. 7.

It is reportedly believed that the Jazz covet Arkansas guard Anthony Black and are looking to move ahead of the Washington Wizards at No. 8 to get him.

ESPN's Jonathan Givony confirmed that there has been talk of the Jazz packaging the Nos. 9 and 16 overall picks to move up in the first round to the No. 5 through No. 7 range.

Givony also reported that the Jazz could use their two later first-round picks at Nos. 16 and 28 to trade up. Givony gave the example of Utah sending Nos. 16 and 28 to the Dallas Mavericks for No. 10, along with the sweetener of taking Dāvis Bertāns' bad contract off Dallas' hands.

The Jazz secured a massive bounty of draft picks and players from trading center Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves and guard Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers last offseason, setting them up well for the future.

Even after losing their top two players, the Jazz went a respectable 37-45 last season and only missed the postseason play-in tournament by three games.

Forward Lauri Markkanen, who arrived as part of the Mitchell trade, was an All-Star in his first season in Utah, while center Walker Kessler was one of the NBA's top rookies after coming over from Minnesota in the Gobert deal.

Also, the Jazz have seven first-round picks over the next three years and 14 first-rounders over the next six drafts, meaning they can afford to package some of them in order to move up and add top prospects to an already talented core.

While Victor Wembanyama, Brandon Miller, Scoot Henderson and the Thompson twins are considered the cream of the crop in this year's draft, Black may not be far off from the upper echelon.

The 6'7" guard was impressive in his only season at Arkansas, averaging 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game, while shooting 45.3 percent from the field.

Thanks to his length and athleticism, Black has a chance to develop into an elite defensive player at the NBA level, which would play well alongside the likes of Markkanen, Kessler and Co.

Also, at just 19 years of age, Black still has room to grow, meaning he could be a player eventually capable of guarding all five positions.

Fischer noted that the Orlando Magic may like Black at No. 6, meaning Utah may have to move up as high as No. 5 if it wants to ensure the opportunity to select the versatile guard.