Nearly 5 years ago, the Utah Jazz attached a first-round pick, protected for three years, to salary dump Derrick Favors to the Oklahoma City Thunder in order to avoid paying luxury tax. That first-round pick is now at the center of NBA’s tanking controversy.
Derrick Favors, or rather his contract, is the reason Utah is in the midst of its longest multi-season losing stretch in nearly four decades. The first-round pick Utah traded, was protected top-10 in 2024 and 2025, and top-8 in 2026.
Utah have also messed with the career of Lauri Markannen through his age 25-28 seasons. They have had him on their roster for 4 years now, but after his first breakout season, he has not played more than 55 games in any of the last 3 seasons. He will be turning 29 this year.
All because of that one protected first-round pick.
Sources:
https://www.prosportstransactions.com/basketball/DraftTrades/Future/Jazz.htm