Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith isn't tipping his hand on which prospect the team will select with the No. 2 overall pick in June, but he's giving fans a fascinating look at how the front office will navigate one of the most anticipated NBA Drafts in recent memory.
Speaking Monday at the Atlantic Across America Utah event—presented in partnership with the Deseret News—Smith shared the stage with host McKay Coppins just hours after appearing on ESPN's "Pat McAfee Show." The conversation covered everything from the Jazz's draft strategy to the arrival of professional hockey in Utah, but it was Smith's comments about the upcoming draft that had basketball fans leaning in.
McAfee had floated the tantalizing possibility of the Jazz trading up from No. 2 to grab the presumptive top pick, BYU phenom AJ Dybantsa. Coppins followed up on that thread, and while Smith didn't address Dybantsa by name, he offered a masterclass in how modern NBA front offices operate.
"I think the next 40 days you're going to see some madness in the NBA," Smith said. "And it might or might not be with us. Maybe the best thing that Danny (Ainge) and Austin (Ainge) see is just the path to go and draft the best player available."
Smith's confidence in his basketball operations leaders—CEO Danny Ainge and president of basketball operations Austin Ainge—was unmistakable. He pointed to their legendary draft-night savvy, noting their bold move in 2017 when they traded the No. 1 pick back to No. 3 and selected Jayson Tatum—a decision that reshaped the Boston Celtics' future.
"Timing is really important in these things," Smith explained. "The days of having someone on the opposite side of the front office who's not smart are long gone."
Perhaps most telling was Smith's assessment of Danny Ainge's mindset: "Danny has a chip missing—he doesn't care what anybody else thinks, including myself. And that's what we want. We want someone who's not afraid to make moves regardless if they're unpopular or popular at this time."
For Jazz fans hoping for fireworks on draft night, Smith's message is clear: trust the process, expect the unexpected, and know that the franchise is in capable hands. "We know that Austin is an absolute star in this league," Smith said. "We are so fortunate to have (the Ainges) instead of me running basketball decisions in the draft."