The race for the top lottery odds is heating up as the 2024-25 NBA season approaches its midpoint. Seven teams, including the Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, Portland Trail Blazers, and New Orleans Pelicans, are vying for the best chance at a top-three draft pick. The Nets, having made trades to weaken their roster, are currently leading this race, with key players like Dennis Schroeder and Dorian Finney-Smith already dealt away.

Despite being fourth from the bottom, the Jazz are only 3.5 games behind the Nets. They boast a strong starting lineup featuring Lauri Markkanen, Colin Sexton, and Walker Kessler, but their bench's youth and inexperience hinder their performance. The Jazz have struggled to close out games, evidenced by their current five-game losing streak where they held leads in three fourth quarters. With crucial matchups against other struggling teams on the horizon, the Jazz's path to a higher draft pick remains uncertain.