It's easy to see why the Utah Jazz want AJ Dybantsa. His talent and ties to Utah itself speak volumes. However, everyone knows the Washington Wizards have the No. 1 pick, so many are keeping their eye on whether they pick Dybantsa. Utah could trade up to get him, but at what point do the ends not justify the means?
Keep this in mind, as Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley proposed a trade between the Jazz and Wizards in which the following would happen.
Jazz get: No. 1 (which they would use on Dybantsa)
Wizards get: No. 2 pick, Ace Bailey
Buckley explained why Utah would go through with a move like this.
"Utah has to love Dybantsa for this to work, but that's easy to envision—without even considering the in-state connection. He looks like a lab-created modern wing, pairing great length and explosion with incredible fluidity and knockout-powered scoring punch from all three levels. If he levels-up his playmaking and defending, he has all-purpose-star potential."
All of that is true, but to trade Bailey along with the No. 2 pick (which is also going to be a talented player no matter who it is) for him? That's a lot to give up when Utah's already in excellent position right now with both Bailey and No. 2.
Dybantsa could be a game-changer, but Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer could be as well. There's even a solid chance they might be better than Dybantsa. That's not to say Dybantsa wouldn't be the Jazz's pick if he's available, but the talent from this class is strong enough that they should be more than comfortable to let things play out.
Doing this would essentially risk giving up two potentially golden prospects for one with slightly more. In other words, overkill at its finest. So yeah, it's not worth it.
It doesn't seem necessary when we still really don't know the draft order
Making a proposed trade like this even crazier is the fact that it's still not crystal clear what the draft order will be. There's still a chance that Dybantsa might not be the No. 1 pick in the draft, in which case, there'd be no need for this.
Going off that, because he's not, who's to say Utah would take him if he was available with the No. 1 pick? Peterson and Boozer are good enough for the Jazz to completely justify taking one of them over him, even if it wouldn't go over well with everyone.
They say quality over quantity, and they're not wrong, but in this case, the Jazz would be messing with their chance to have it both ways.
Grade: F
