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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz currently don't have a single pick in this year's NBA draft. The key word: currently.
The Jazz have historically been an active player on draft night and have done everything from trading up (like when they acquired Donovan Mitchell), trading back (like in the last two drafts), and buying picks (Rudy Gobert and a slew of second rounders).
So the Jazz will be active over the next month.
"We prepare for the draft and the upcoming workouts and everything else that goes into it whether we have to pick or not," general manager Justin Zanik said. "Same, same process, same intent, same hours, all of that, so we'll be prepared if opportunities come up to add something that makes sense for our organization."
A major part of that process began on Thursday when the Jazz held their first pre-draft workout.
In attendance: Connecticut guard R.J. Cole, Wichita State guard Tyson Etienne, UCLA wing Johnny Juzang, Seton Hall wing Jared Rhoden, Australian big Akoldah Gak and Purdue's Trevion Williams.
The stars of the day? Juzan, Williams and Rhoden, but none are expected to go in the first round. Draft night history aside, it will be hard for the Jazz to get any top talent in for a workout. But with years of running free agency camps and scouring the end of drafts hoping for a diamond in the rough, that won't deter the Jazz from bringing everyone they can.
And there were some intriguing pieces in for Thursday's workout. Rhoden, a 6-foot-6 wing, has crept up draft boards after a strong showing at the G League Elite Camp in early May, which earned him a spot at the NBA Combine last week in Chicago.
"It's been a long journey," he said. "I was in Chicago for eight days, just working out, doing a bunch of different things. I got the call up to go to the NBA Combine. I played about four games in five days and I had my Pro Day. So it was a long journey, but I'm thankful to even have the opportunity.
"I'm just trying to work on my game and just sharpen everything I can do."
He shot 33% from 3-point range his senior season and was especially good on spot-up attempts. He's a long wing that could have some role player potential in the NBA .
"I'm a long wing, someone who's active on both sides of the ball," he said. "Just utilizing my energy and my activeness to just affect the game. I think I'm the type of player that does all the intangible things that, you know, may not always show up on the box score, but someone that can affect the game with just doing all the little dirty work things and things that can have an impact on the game in the long run."
Williams, who also spoke to the media after Tuesday's workout, is a potential second-round pick with a unique game. He's 6-foot-10, but his best skill might be his passing. Purdue often gave him the ball up top and let him find cutters.
"I've prided myself and I've pushed myself to figure out other ways to impact the game without scoring," Williams said. "I have an understanding that it's not always gonna be about me. I've always just enjoyed being a part of a team."
On that note, he said that his pass-happy game hasn't been based off watching anyone, but more about his personality.
"I thrive off seeing other people succeed, and that's kind of where that passing ability comes from," he said.
When it comes to working out for a team that doesn't have a pick, Williams said it was all about opportunity. He knows that things can change before June 23 comes around, so he might as well take any chance he has to show what he can do.
"Everybody doesn't get the opportunity to be in this environment," Williams said. "So you just take advantage and you take what you can get. You show what you can and just have fun with it. You can't think about that. You've got to control what you can control."
