SALT LAKE CITY — Any drama that had built up waiting for the Utah Jazz to make the final pick of the first round in Thursday's 2021 NBA Draft fizzled out when the team traded its selection.
But even in the second round, the Jazz were able to land a player with big name recognition in Jared Butler. The former Baylor point guard was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2021 NCAA tournament in which the Bears won.
Butler, 20, was a first-team All-American last season and was ranked the 4th best point guard in the draft by ESPN.
"The fact that his knee was also red-flagged by NBA doctors was eventually too much for teams picking in the first round, causing him to slide all the way to 40 where he could very well end up being one of the best value picks of the draft," wrote ESPNs Jonathan Givony.
While the Jazz were on the clock with the 30th pick, the team traded it to the Memphis Grizzlies. In return, Utah received the 40th pick, which ended up being Butler, and two future second round selections, according to ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski.
Just before taking Butler, the Sacramento Kings took Utah State's Neemias Queta with the 39th pick.
