Utah Jazz: 2018 NBA Draft grades and reaction to Grayson Allen pick

3 of 4

Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images /

No. 52: Cash considerations

The Utah Jazz had to wait 31 selections between their first and second pick of the 2018 NBA Draft… and traded it to their longtime rival, the Houston Rockets.

Wait, what?

Teams have hit on well-documented second round players like Draymond Green, Marc Gasol, Isaiah Thomas, Malcolm Brogdon, current Jazz forward Jae Crowder — the list goes on and on. The fact of the matter is that the draft is a glorified crapshoot, but that seems like too lazy of a metaphor, so here’s a new one:

The chance of hitting on a player in the first round is about as good as New York Knicks fans booing whoever they select (half-kidding). The chance of hitting on a player in the second round is about as good of a chance as Gordon Hayward has being welcomed back to Utah.

Those metaphors don’t mean that Allen won’t be successful with the Jazz, or that they shouldn’t have traded the No. 52 pick. In fact, it could be viewed as a positive:

You could also interpret that trade as a vote of confidence for guys like Tony Bradley, Naz Mitrou-Long, Georges Niang and Nigel Williams-Goss — guys who are already within the Jazz organization who are hoping to get roster spots
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) June 22, 2018

While it’s not a guarantee any of those players make next season’s roster, it’s also not a bad idea to take a look at guys that are already in their organization.

Bradley was Utah’s first round selection last year, and spent the majority of his rookie season in the G League, playing for the Jazz’s affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars. He averaged a double-double when it was all said and done, to the tune of 15.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game (3.8 offensive). Maybe the Jazz view him as a Derrick Favors replacement, or, more likely, that he’s ready to contribute off the bench.