PLAYOFFS OR NOT PLAYOFFS!! (TYLER)

THIS IS MY DILEMMA!!!


So to put a little background behind my dilemma let me fill you in on a couple of details with the Jazz. The Jazz are set this year to receive Golden States first round pick in this years draft if the Warriors end up eighth or below in the lottery... also the Minnesota Timberwolves will receive the Jazz's first round pick if the Jazz make the playoffs (from the Al Jefferson trade). So now that you all know this, know that this years draft is supposed to be one of the deeper drafts the NBA has seen in a while. There is a lot of good players.

Currently the Jazz are just outside of the Playoffs sitting at 10th in the Western Conference. One and a half games behind Denver who is 8th. The Jazz have five games left in the season with four of them at home against Dallas (tonight), Orlando, Phoenix (who is currently 9th), and Portland. Their only road game is at Portland.

So me being a Jazz fan, i want my team to make the playoffs first off, but also want them to show well in the playoffs, you know, at least make a series of it and not get swept. And after talking with a friend of mine James Rust at ESPN700 he brought up a good point about all the young players on the Jazz getting some playoff experience even if a little. I really want to see the Jazz do well and keep progressing.
However, seeing as the Jazz would lose their first round pick to Minnesota if they do make the playoffs they would have to rely on Golden State to win enough games and luck out in the lottery so that the Jazz would get their pick in the first round. My worry is that the Jazz if they win enough and Golden State loses enough or gets lucky enough, then the Jazz wouldn't even have a first round pick this coming year and would lose out on some real talent coming out of college and would stay about par in the league.

So my question to all of you is what would you prefer... make the playoffs and chance not having any first round picks, or not make the playoffs and secure your own pick and possibly have two picks in the first round?

I don't know myself and i'm just about to the point of just being content with whatever happens which is lame. Let me know your thought in the comments below. And GO JAZZ!!!!..... i think.