SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Being a lottery pick and getting guaranteed money was not enticement enough for some players to work out for the Utah Jazz.
The team sent out invitations, but several players expected to go early in Thursday night’s NBA draft declined.
The Jazz were snubbed, no question. But they are not alone. As part of the process to find the ideal situation for their clients, agents withhold players from workouts.
There’s a risk/reward factor for a player not to showcase his talents to as many teams as possible – unless you’re early round locks like Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram. Nonetheless, the Jazz – who had a lottery pick before trading out of the first round on Wednesday – struggled to schedule workouts with those expected to be lottery picks.
“The agents are holding their players back a little bit more this year, making sure they’re in position before they go out for workouts,” said Jazz vice president of player development Walt Perrin, who did not name players who declined Utah invitations. “It seems like some of them are being very selective in where they’re sending” guys.