The Losing Edge: 7 NBA teams that should be lining up to tank for Cooper Flagg
By Cal Durrett
Utah Jazz
Despite a strong 2024 NBA Draft in which they took Cody Williams, Isaiah Collier, and Kyle Filipowski, the Utah Jazz may a lottery team NBA next season. That could encourage the Jazz to move on from some of their veterans, such as Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, and possibly even Lauri Markkanen during the season, in favor of a full rebuild.
That would allow them to stockpile draft assets while also tearing down their roster enough to drop in the standings and compete for one of the three worst records in the league. After winning just 31 games last season, moving three or four rotation players and replacing them with rookies would likely be enough to put them in position to draft Flagg.
Were they to land him, he'd be their first generational building block and allow the Jazz to build up around him. Considering that the Jazz have historically built through the draft, they would likely have little issue doing so.
With them stuck between being too good to land a high pick and not good enough to make the play-in tournament. Going the rebuild route would at least give them a shot at a potential superstar.