Utah Jazz News, Rumors - RealGM (2024)

The Utah Jazz are expected to explore trading their first-round picks this upcoming draft, including the No. 10 pick.

The Jazz also have the No. 29 and 32 pick in the draft.

Jazz owner Ryan Smith is looking to add more star power to the roster.

The team is also interested in working out Bronny James.

The Utah Jazz have expressed interest in working out Bronny James, sources told Krysten Peek of Yahoo! Sports.

The team could be interested in selecting James with the 32nd pick in the upcoming draft.

James said earlier in the week that his focus was getting to the league instead of playing with LeBron James.

The NBA held its 2024 draft lottery in Chicago on Sunday with the Atlanta Hawks winning the top overall pick. The Hawks entered the lottery with just a three percent chance of securing the top pick.

The Charlotte Hornets have agreed to hire Lamar Skeeter as the lead assistant coach under Charles Lee.

Skeeter spent the past decade with the Utah Jazz under Quin Snyder and Will Hardy.

Justin Zanik will undergo a kidney transplant on April 2nd. Zanik will be in the University of Utah's hospital for several days and then be home for most of April recuperating. Zanik expects to return to normal activities running the front office of the Utah Jazz well ahead of the draft and free agency.

Zanik has Polycystic Kidney Disease, which has also been diagnosed in all three of his children. All three of his children have advanced forms of PKD that will likely require them to undergo kidney transplants before they turn 30 and perhaps undergo multiple transplants.

Zanik was diagnosed in October and the husband of his wife's childhood best friend will be his kidney donor.

"I'm a fixer by nature," Justin said. "My job with the Jazz, my role with my family -- I mean, I was a [player] agent for 15 years. I fixed a lot of s---. I'm the one who's supposed to help. I'm the one who's supposed to take care of everything. I really didn't know how to ask for help, but I had to get over it.

"I knew I had to get over it."

The Utah Jazz announced that forward Lauri Markkanen will miss at least two weeks due to a right shoulder impingement. Markkanen felt discomfort in the shoulder during Wednesday's game.

Because Markkanen is set to be re-evaluated in two weeks, he's likely out for the remainder of the regular season. Utah has been eliminated from postseason contention, leaving no reason to rush their star player back into action this season.

The NBA has suspended Kris Dunn of the Utah Jazz and Jabari Smith Jr. of the Houston Rockets. The two players were involved in an on-court altercation in their teams' game on Saturday night.

Dunn was suspended for two games for initiating the fight and for throwing a punch. He'll miss Utah's games against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday and the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.

Smith was suspended one game for fighting with Dunn. He'll miss Houston's games on Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Anthony Edwards dislocated his finger on a dunk over John Collins, he said in a postgame interview with Bally Sports North.

The dunk occurred in the third quarter with the Timberwolves trailing by a point.

Edwards returned to the game to shoot free throws with his fingers taped up.

Collins suffered a head contusion on the play, according to league sources.

Collins did not have a concussion.

The Utah Jazz have waived Otto Porter Jr., who subsequently announced his retirement.

Porter is not eligible to appear on the playoff roster of any team this season.

The Jazz acquired Porter from the Toronto Raptors at the trade deadline and had been away from the team. Porter won a championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2022 before signing a two-year, $12.4 million deal with the Raptors.

“For the past 11 years, I had the chance to live my lifelong dream of playing in the NBA,” said Porter Jr. “That dream was capped by winning an NBA Championship! Unfortunately, my body is not allowing me to play at the level that I expect of myself, and I have therefore decided to retire.”

Darius Bazley has agreed to a three-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Utah Jazz.

Bazley averaged 21 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists for Delaware in the G League this season.