Utah Jazz: 10 biggest draft-night blunders in team history

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9) Jose Ortiz (1987)

Puerto Rican baller Jose Ortiz was a big deal in the mid-80s for fans of college basketball on the west coast. At Oregon State, he was a star, averaging nearly 20 points and nine rebounds per game over two seasons. In ’87, he even beat out Reggie Miller for Pac-10 Player of the Year honors.

All the ingredients were seemingly there for Ortiz to make an impact for the Jazz. Unfortunately, he never made it happen.

Instead of joining the Jazz immediately, Ortiz elected play in Spain for a year. When he finally came to Utah for the 1988-89 NBA season, he had a hard time getting off of the bench. As a rookie, he averaged less than three points in six minutes per contest. Midway through his second season, the Jazz unceremoniously waived him.

Next: No. 8

success stories the Utah Jazz have enjoyed in the NBA Draft</a> over the years. For example, when they picked up Hall of Famers John Stockton and Karl Malone outside of the Top 10 in 1984 and ’85. Or their many second-round steals, i.e. Paul Millsap and Bryon Russell.</p> <p>Despite the presence of some epic draft-day wins, though, the Jazz have also had their fair share of big misses throughout the years. Some of them were huge; situations where players completely bombed or set the franchise back in a major way.</p> <p>I’m not talking about situations like the LA Lakers dealing D’Angelo Russell, a former No. 2 overall pick, for Brook Lopez, because he’ll only be “pretty good.” They created room to get a superstar with the move and already have a second swing at a point guard who could be great in the bank.</p> <p>We’re talking about total failure.</p> <p>So here they are in all their glory — the Top 10 biggest draft blunders in Utah Jazz history.</p> <div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2017/06/21/top-10-draft-night-blunders-utah-jazz-history/3/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">No. 10</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_59207" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2017/06/21/top-10-draft-night-blunders-utah-jazz-history/3/"https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/usat-images/2016/04/9768986-nba-atlanta-hawks-at-phoenix-suns.jpeg"> "Kris

ESPN called Borchardt a Top 10 talent</a> in their write-up on the big man ahead of the draft and they weren’t alone in that thinking.</p> <p>The honorable mention All-American out of Stanford had the look of a highly-skilled center with a smooth offensive game and shot-blocking ability to boot. The rub was that Borchardt had recurring issues with stress fractures in his foot; a death knell for big men trying to go through the NBA grind.</p> <p>Nevertheless, the Jazz pulled off a draft-night trade with the Orlando Magic to acquire his services. And, sure enough, he missed the entirety of the 2002-03 season and failed to make an impact in two subsequent seasons in Utah. He was out of the league by 2005.</p> <div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2017/06/21/top-10-draft-night-blunders-utah-jazz-history/3/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">No. 7</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_59214" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2017/06/21/top-10-draft-night-blunders-utah-jazz-history/3/"https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/usat-images/2016/04/8914447-nba-utah-jazz-at-detroit-pistons.jpeg"> "Trey

pic.twitter.com/kttkhVzCuq

<p>— Rev. Ryan Aston (@mrmarykateolsen) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2017/06/21/top-10-draft-night-blunders-utah-jazz-history/3/"https://twitter.com/mrmarykateolsen/status/877678260758265856">June 22, 2017</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src=https://thejnotes.com/2017/06/21/top-10-draft-night-blunders-utah-jazz-history/3/"//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div> <h3>5) The infamous Larry Knight pick (1979)</h3> <p>This list features several former first-round draft picks that failed to live up to the hype during their Jazz careers. However, their pick at No. 20 in the ’79 NBA Draft  — Loyola big man Larry Knight — didn’t even have a career, for the Jazz or any other NBA team.</p> <p>According to former Jazz coach and GM Frank Layden, Knight was a hard worker and great rebounder in college. But when he showed up for training camp, it became clear he just couldn’t hack it, even for a Jazz team with little talent that languished in the league’s cellar.</p> <p>Years later, Tom Nissalke, who coached the Jazz at the time, told the <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2017/06/21/top-10-draft-night-blunders-utah-jazz-history/3/"http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705312553/Utah-Jazz-Disaster-of-a-pick.html">Deseret News</a> that Knight was “so inept” offensively. He may have lacked some of the mental fortitude to succeed in the league as well.</p> <p>Here’s Nissalke on severing ties with Knight —</p> <blockquote class="left ampstart-left">Nissalke remembers delivering the news that he’d been cut. “I just said, ‘You’re not gonna make the team,” Nissalke said. Knight’s reaction? “No reaction,” Nissalke said.</blockquote> <div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2017/06/21/top-10-draft-night-blunders-utah-jazz-history/3/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">No. 4</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_59220" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2017/06/21/top-10-draft-night-blunders-utah-jazz-history/3/"https://thejnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/usat-images/2016/04/9558960-nba-oklahoma-city-thunder-media-day.jpeg"> "Enes

5 Utah Jazz players make ESPN’s Top 100 for 2023-2024 </a> <li> <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2017/06/21/top-10-draft-night-blunders-utah-jazz-history/3/"https://thejnotes.com/2023/10/11/john-collins-believes-the-utah-jazz-are-on-the-verge-of-something-great/"> John Collins believes the Utah Jazz are on the verge of something great </a> <li> <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2017/06/21/top-10-draft-night-blunders-utah-jazz-history/3/"https://thejnotes.com/2023/10/11/former-utah-jazz-player-dante-exum-is-looking-like-the-player-they-hoped-he-would-be/"> Former Utah Jazz player, Dante Exum, is looking like the player they hoped he would be </a> <li> <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2017/06/21/top-10-draft-night-blunders-utah-jazz-history/3/"https://thejnotes.com/2023/10/11/kelly-olynyk-could-be-a-realistic-sixth-man-of-the-year-for-the-utah-jazz/"> Kelly Olynyk could be a realistic Sixth Man of the Year for the Utah Jazz </a> <li> <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2017/06/21/top-10-draft-night-blunders-utah-jazz-history/3/"https://thejnotes.com/2023/10/11/its-only-preseason-but-the-utah-jazz-could-use-a-stable-point-guard/"> It’s only preseason but the Utah Jazz could use a stable point guard </a> </ul> </div> <p>One was Raul Lopez, the other was Tony Parker. They bet on the wrong horse.</p> <p>Utah ultimately went with Lopez, who was an exciting talent, but had severe knee problems. He would eventually play for the team and was a solid back-up during the 2003-04 season, but he was out of the league a year later.</p> <p>In the meantime, Parker won four titles, played in six All-Star games and will one day join Stockton in the HOF.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">

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Published on 06/21/2017 at 6:07 PM MDT
Last updated on 06/22/2017 at 10:54 AM MDT

The J-Notes

Top 10 Draft-night blunders in Utah Jazz history

9) Jose Ortiz (1987)

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