Draft Pick or the Playoffs

As the Jazz fight for one of the coveted Western Conference playoff spots, each win and loss has brought the same argument: which is more beneficial, a playoff berth or a spot in the NBA Draft Lottery?

I hold firmly on the side of the playoffs being the better option. The experience gained in the playoffs by the younger players is invaluable. They need to learn what it is like to play in the 7-game series format. The quicker a team can get past the “we’re just happy to be here” phase the better. Consistent appearance and success in the playoffs breed more success. The most likely scenario for the Jazz this season is a 6,7,8 seed. They will likely get bounced in the first round to a more seasoned team and may only win one game. That one win will mean that they played 5 playoff games. Steal an extra game at home and they will have played 6. Understanding, appreciating and then basking in the playoff atmosphere are part of the progression for any team. The Jazz need not waste another year sitting on the sidelines in May.

In addition to an argument in favor of the playoffs, I would like to poke holes in the argument supporting a lottery pick over the playoffs. Having a top 3 pick means that either you were terrible or you made a blockbuster move to position your franchise there. A team with a top 3 pick never has the discussion explaining the merits of a playoff berth over a lottery pick or vise-versa. Frankly, a team with a top 10 pick seldom has that discussion. If you hold pick 11-14 though, that discussion likely took place.

In all honesty, how much is pick 13 worth? At that point in the draft, the likelihood of your team securing an all-star, let alone a starter are very slim. While it is true that the Jazz brass have a solid resume of quality draft picks, the NBA draft still is a crap shoot. For every Gordon Hayward there are multiple Kirk Snyders, Luther Wrights, and Kyrylo Fesenkos. With Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Alec Burks, Enes Kanter being considered the future, they need to be involved this year in that which will be the measuring stick for their success: the playoffs.

By Deron Williams, the Utah Jazz essentially rebuilt the roster over-night. While this team is far from the level of a seasoned playoff team, hard work from both players and coaches has planted the Jazz firmly in the playoff race rather than dreaming about next year. Playoffs or not this year, the expectation next year is not just the playoffs but, barring injury, homecourt advantage in the first round. This team has the talent, now, it just needs the experience.