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The Jazz will hold a draft party at EnergySolutions Arena on Thursday, June 28. Doors open at 5PM. More info forthcoming.

Anyone planning on going? I'll probably stay home and watch it, but I thought it was interesting they are throwing a party going (for now) into it with only a 2nd rounder.

That's really weird....... I hope it means there's a trade coming......

They do it every year, so that fans can watch the draft on the big screen.

Even if they had zero picks, I still think that they would do it.

I don't believe they held a party in 2008. This was the Kosta Koufos year along with Tomic and another Euro. So there may be some hope that something is cooking (announce a trade for a pick maybe). Let's cross our fingers. We really need a good shooter to round out the roster.

This would be the first time since '98, or so, that the Jazz wouldn't have a pick in the first round. Pretty sure they swing something. Especially with so many teams looking to unload their picks. My hopes are set on Marshall and Machado.

I usually drop in for a bit but definitely wouldn't be sticking around for into the 2nd round. You would be there all night!

ill go just because its my day off. Who knows maybe they'll trade into the lottery.

QuantumMacgyver wrote: Especially with so many teams looking to unload their picks.

I'll assume you're talking about the rumors surrounding some teams making their 1st rounders available. There are some teams willing to trade their picks for the right price, but I wouldn't say they are looking to unload them. That makes it sound like those picks could be had cheaply, which I don't think is the case at all.

I don't imagine first round picks are ever easily available. This years draft simply has more teams valuing cap space than rookies. That being the case, the availability of first round picks is higher than most years. So, if the Jazz want to trade into the first round, there are more suiters than usual. i.e: Cap strapped teams would likely move this years pick for a future pick, straight up.

I go every year and it's a blast.

One year they gave out free tickets to pre-season games for those who stayed till the second round.

I try to go as well it's free, it's fun - hope I get to go

QuantumMacgyver wrote:I don't imagine first round picks are ever easily available. This years draft simply has more teams valuing cap space than rookies. That being the case, the availability of first round picks is higher than most years. So, if the Jazz want to trade into the first round, there are more suiters than usual. i.e: Cap strapped teams would likely move this years pick for a future pick, straight up.

Sorry, but I disagree. We'll see just how many of these so-called available picks are actually traded. Teams are making them available because they are looking to fleece someone who is desperate to get into the draft. The new CBA has placed a higher value on draft picks. Buying into the draft is going to be more costly than ever, not the other way around.

You used to be able to buy into the first round for a cool 3 million. Now teams are limited to 3 million cash a year in trades. So even if you could buy a pick for that much, it would limit your trade flelxibilty for the next year. Like I said, we'll wait and see how things play out, but i believe most teams will simlpy avoid buying into the first round, because the price will be too high.

KOC is downplaying the chance of moving into the first round saying "Everybody is going to be asking for the moon and the stars." http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsjazzn ... d.html.csp

But then again he always (wisely) sets expectations low and then if he over-delivers everyone is happy. That beats setting high expectations in the media and then failing to deliver.

Is this Kevin O'Connor's way of sending a message to teams to come with more reasonable offers--a negotiation strategy to help get us something in the first round. Or is it KOC being transparent and letting us know that the draft party might be a long night before any Jazz news happens?

Or does he have a different trade in mind, which doesn't involve getting a first round draft pick, but which will be announced to a Jazz crowd at the ESA party?

I'm hoping for something exciting, but prepared for something boring. And since a lot of these deals don't seem to happen until they happen, maybe even KOC doesn't know what to expect.

KOC rarely tips his hand to give any information what he is trying to do or what he thinks they can do when talking to the media/fans. I don't think teams/GMs do much reading in the media to see what their counterparts are thinking.

Toothless wrote:I don't believe they held a party in 2008. This was the Kosta Koufos year along with Tomic and another Euro. So there may be some hope that something is cooking (announce a trade for a pick maybe). Let's cross our fingers. We really need a good shooter to round out the roster.

Oh! You mean the year we drafted Koufos/Tomic letting other teams draft Ibaka/Dragic just after them??? Oh man! We drafted some Dragicevsomething instead of Erden too (ok that's just a tiny mistake!).

You're an evil fan!!! Keep it to yourself man!

Take a deep breath and imagine Ibaka and Favors playing together... and Dragic feeding and treying... ok, ok... just let it go!

Ouch. I'd totally blocked out who we passed over for to get Koufos, Tom, and other guy with unpronouncable name.

That settles it. The last time we didn't have a Jazz draft party during the draft may have been one of our worst ever--especially having 3 first round picks.

This is the real reason KOC is holding a draft party this year. We can't afford to have another 2008.

I wouldn't bother for a second round selection.

And I really doubt the Jazz trade into the draft. It doesn't fit their MO. I hope to be wrong but I'd bet a ton the other way.