Feb 21, 2025 , 11:31 AM
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – FEBRUARY 05: Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith looks on during the second half of a game against the Golden State Warriors at Delta Center on February 05, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
CHANDLER HOLT
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz and Utah Hockey Club owner Ryan Smith opened up about the Jazz’s rebuild and the symbiotic relationship between the NBA and NHL franchises.
Smith joined DJ & PK on the KSL Sports Zone on Friday to discuss the latest with Utah’s pro sports teams.
Currently, the Jazz are in the thick of a race for the top odds in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft.
With elite prospects like Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and Ace Bailey waiting to hear their names called in June, multiple NBA teams have their eyes on the summer as opposed to the games in front of them.
However, landing a top pick is never a certainty, and Smith acknowledged the Jazz may need to be proactive.
“We’re hoping to do something a little different in Utah Jazz history,” Smith said. “I don’t think we’ve ever moved up in the draft and I don’t think we’ve ever had the No. 1 pick. In these situations, you work with what you’ve got. If you look through history, it’s pretty tough to predict exactly who is going to go where. If there’s a situation where we decide to move or get more aggressive with some of the assets we have, I think we’ll be active.”
In most cases, championship contenders are built both through the draft and in free agency.
As a smaller-market team, the Jazz have traditionally relied on the draft rather than free agency to build contenders. But Smith believes that could change.
“There will be a day where bigger players decide they want to be here,” Smith said. “That’s our goal. I know everyone runs with that, the ‘big game hunting.’ We should not lose sight of that. We’re trying everything we can with the league. All of the moves we’re making to try to make it a place that they desire. The secret is definitely out that this is a place where people can lock in. We’re due at some point to have a big signing come our way.”
jazz fans >>> pic.twitter.com/I33nCsCOq6
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 13, 2025
The NHL’s move to Utah opened the world’s eyes to Salt Lake City as a sports destination.
While the NBA and NHL appeal to different fanbases, the connection between the two and the positives it brings to the market is stronger than most might think.
Smith explained that the presence and success of the Hockey Club should bring optimism to Jazz fans.
“Hockey is a fresh start,” Smith said. “We’re a top-3 destination right now in the NHL it feels like. That’s a unique feeling. Part of that is the fresh start and being new. So much of the success so far is due to our community and our fans. We’ve always had a goal to try to bring nice things to Utah. The NHL was one of those. Those are championship moments and that’s our goal. I think hockey should make us even more optimistic about the NBA long term.”
Paired with the rebuild are the renovations coming to Delta Center.
To accommodate both basketball and hockey, the arena is set for a three-year transformation. Smith said that the final product will be something never-before-seen in a two-sport arena.
“It’s a big lift,” Smith said. “It would probably be easier to start from scratch. But, it’s really important for us to stay downtown. We’re going to start in the summer. We’re going to pull a crane in there and it won’t leave until we start up again. We’re going to start with the lower bowl. It’s probably a three-year process. There’ll be more lower bowl seats. In talking with Adam Silver, our goal was ‘How do we create the first-ever hockey dual-purpose basketball arena, but keep the tightness that we love about the Delta Center.’”
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