Draft thoughts...
by rxmike12 on May 19, 2008 9:14 PM MDT
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PrintHello all,
As a rabid Jazz fan in Las Vegas, I'd like to throw my $0.02 in there about the draft coming this year. Yes, yes, I'm still vomiting on a semi-regular pace after the way the team got back in the game and fell just short, but it's time to move on, or get left behind.
So, who to draft? The pick is late in the first round (23rd, I believe), and obviously we're not getting a Beasley/Brook Lopez/DeAndre Jordan type. But who could slip? NBAdraft.net currently has the Jazz taking plodding center Roy Hibbert (Ostertag, anyone?), and I'm not sure this is the way to go. They have C Robin Lopez (an Anderson Varajeo type) in the same range, and this would be an interesting pick. An active rebounder, shot blocker, defender who lacks on offense, but can wreak havoc inside. I think big has to be the way to go, but if Fesenko develops, then what?
Backup point guard is always an option, but do you want to spend a first rounder on a 12 minute/game guy for the next 10 years (hopefully)? Maybe a small forward type like Brandon Rush? He's long, can get his own shot, and could make a difference if a certain Russian is traded in the near future. Hopefully they don't see a tall white guy from BYU (Plaisted) and think he can play. I saw him play a couple times and thought he was awful.
What do I think will happen? Probably some overseas guy we've never heard of. What do I hope will happen? Joe Alexander slips... Donte Greene slips and stays in the D-league long enough for Sloan to retire because I know they wouldn't get along. :)
Draft lottery tomorrow which will get the pieces in motion. Stay tuned!
All comments are the opinion of the commenter and not necessarily that of SLC Dunk or SB Nation.
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I think getting Rose would be awesome!
Okay, I’m done dreaming.
I’m hoping Fesenko develops… not sure if I’d want to take a big then. Especially if Collins is still on the roster. Ugh.
Earlier, I was all for back-up PG. And then Ronnie Price started to play. I don’t think you go 3rd string PG in the first round.
I really don’t see a need at the 4 with Booze & ‘Sap, unless Booze lets it be known that he’s seriously considering opting out after next season. Probably our most complete position, provided Booze isn’t stuck in his playoff form.
And wing… we have way too many (especially if CJ resigns). Of course, trading AK could change that… we’d need a defensive minded guy… but barring that…. I don’t see the need.
Can we expect another overseas project? The last one involved passing on one Mr. Longoria for Raul Lopez.
The Utah Jazz
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
My bet
Is that either it’s an overseas pick or it’s used in a trade. Like UtesFan89 said, we don’t really need anything at another position. If it is used, I could see the pick’s draft rights traded somewhere. I think we draft an overseas big man and let him play a year somewhere.
Do you guys realize that Collins is an expiring contract next year? That’s the most value he’s had, ever. He could be sent in a package to get a defensive player. I’m kind of giddy.
by Basketball John on May 20, 2008 8:15 AM MDT reply actions
It's a great feeling!
So is Hart… if he exercises his option to stick around next year.
The Utah Jazz
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
used in a trade
Definitely. Some combination of this year’s pick(s), Jarron Collins’ Expiring Contract (by the way, I vote we refer to him exclusively as Jarron Collins’ Expiring Contract from now on, a la Bill Simmons), and perhaps one other player if necessary, to get some defensive help? I’d be ALL over that.
I'll make it.
Am I crazy
or do we need a defensive SMALL guy? The reason we give up a lot of points in the paint/layups/dunks is that our outside guys get beat to the hole and guys have to scramble to recover (or they let the guy get past them with the hopes of blocking the shot…WINK WINK* AK) If we had a good defensive 2/3 that could stay in front of their man, I think our inside troubles would decrease.
OH, and Booz needs to learn how to move his feet on D, but that’s obvious
just popped in my head...
we could probably get a STEAL in the first round if we simply drafted for defense rather than “all-around player.” We don’t need a guy who can create his own shot or jump over the hoop. Just a Bowen/Bell/Kobe (defensively)/Artest type who can be the lock-down guy.
Someone like Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
ESPN compares him to Ron Artest. He’s not much of a scorer, but he’s a good rebounder and an incredibly versatile defender. ESPN projects him as a late first round or early second round pick (if he stays in the draft).
Another interesting option is Chris Douglas-Roberts. He’s not the defender Mbah a Moute is, but he’s a much better scorer. Most mock drafts have him going in the late teens and early twenties, so he might not stay on the board long enough.
by SuperBruinMan on May 20, 2008 8:55 PM MDT up reply actions
This
is a very salient point.
Memo, if he can get into defensive position and body up, is actually quite a decent defender. Gasol got most of his points from camping in the key and getting feeds off dribble penetration, not from post-up isolation. Ditto for Yao and Duncan in last year’s playoffs. I give Memo a lot of credit for his on-the-ball defensive effort. He’s just too slow to rotate on the help side.
It’s similar with Boozer—if he can get a body on there, he’s not as bad (although far, far worse defensively than Memo).
Plus, with Fesenko developing, defensive size inside is perhaps not what we need to worry about.
I do think that, as he gets older, Ronnie Brewer is the defensive answer at the 2-guard. Once he learns a little more, gets a little more respect from refs so they don’t call weak hand check fouls, and just continues to improve, I think he can be our go-to defensive stopper. It’s when Korver/Harpring is in the game guarding the wing that we really get torched.
I'll make it.
one more thought...
Derrick Rose is #1 on NBADraft.net? Am I missing something? He averaged 15 points, less than 5 ast, less than 5 rebounds, and is a 71% free throw shooter. I admit that I don’t watch college basketball, but what am I missing here?
He dominated March Madness
Totally owned DJ Augustin, and Ty Lawson played like crap.
Plus all the hype entering college.
Of course, I’m a huge Rose fan and would love to see him on the Jazz.
Him & Deron form a deadly young guard duo, and let J-Slo use his favorite line-up… the one with the 6’small 2-guard. Brewer replaces one of them at the 2, and you never have to see Harp or Korver guard Kobe.
Okay, I’m done dreaming.
The Utah Jazz
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
One reason for low stats
He played in a weak conference, so Memphis didn’t need their starters to play a lot of minutes. I’m pretty sure he played less than 30 mpg.
by SuperBruinMan on May 20, 2008 8:39 PM MDT up reply actions
I don't watch much besides UCLA
And I’m heavily biased, but I’m a fan of Lorenzo Mata. Nowhere near a first round pick, and not the tallest guy, but I would say he’s pretty good defensively, and he’ll try and try and try.
Can't believe the Bulls pulled out the #1 pick
They have a lot of options coming up this summer. They came to the revue last year. Could possibly see them again.
by Basketball John on May 20, 2008 8:14 PM MDT reply actions
Lottery...
Wow, a #23 wearing guard from Chicago is gonna end up in… Chicago. Better than Portland, Seattle, GS, and the like adding a Beasley or Rose.
1) For those who haven’t seen Rose, he’s the real deal (imo). More like D-Will than CP3, and still VERY young. Oh, and he’s not coming :)
2) Minnesota’s likely going for Brook Lopez according to reports, which doesn’t scare me much as a Jazz fan.
3) Roy Hibbert was ranked 5th in most mock drafts before the season. I’m not sure if that makes if any more attractive at #23, but it’s interesting.
4) CDR is a stretch to improve the 2-spot for the Jazz.
5) It’s so odd with basketball. You have a starting lineup and you step back and can’t figure out how to improve it.
My goodness, is it June 26th or October 31st yet! I can’t watch the Spurs/Lakers tomorrow in good conscience and try to enjoy it. Can’t the refs win or something? Oh, and I was so excited to see this on the front page. I’m looking forward to contributing in the future!
-Mike
davon jefferson from USC!
would be an interesting pick if fesenko is ready to contribute. jefferson needs atleast a year in the D league to develop, and we could keep him there until AK is traded (which seems like a foregone conclusion now that dwill/millsap need extensions and AK can’t stop planning vacations before the playoffs are over.) i watched jefferson a lot last year and he has all the tools to be a formidable offensive and defensive force at the 3/4. he came out too early, but the jazz are one of the few teams that could afford to stash a player in the d league for a year while he developed. the risk is low and the reward could be very good. however, if fes still can’t fill the job of back-up center, i’d like to see the jazz draft hibbert or robin lopez.
a big man
I think the glaring need for the Jazz is a defensive big man. I know this is just wishful thinking.. but could you imagine what this Jazz team could do with someone like Marcus Camby? Gasol doesn’t get those 4 footers in the paint, and many of those Laker layups get blocked or altered. I know getting someone like him is a long shot, but any big man with some cajones would do. For as slow as Memo is, I don’t think he’s a terrible defender, but that’s saying something about our other big down low, Boozer.
I can’t for the life of me, figure out why a big man with as quick of a first step on offense as he has could be so gawd-awfully slow on defense. My only conclusions are either a lack of effort, or plain stupidity. I think Brewer’s just going to get better, and Millsap gives us a solid ‘big’ down low, but the Jazz need a defensive-minded big. A big who is mediocre defensively would be an improvement.
And if the Jazz waste their pick on Plaisted, I will slit my wrists… and I’m a BYU fan. Never has there been a more over-hyped player coming out of BYU. At least Shawn Bradley lasted several years in the NBA. I will be absolutely STUNNED if Plaisted is in the NBA in 3 years. He needed that last year of eligibility, in my opinion. As a Cougar fan though, I hope I’m wrong.
I think that's why
everyone and their mother thinks the Jazz should go with Hibbert.
Chad Ford said this…
The skinny: Is there a better fit for Hibbert than Utah? He needs a team that excels in half-court sets. His size and scoring ability make him an asset as long, as you don’t ask him to run the floor or play 40 minutes a game.
I don’t know how good Ford is at this… but he needs some help with placing commas.
The Utah Jazz
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
Anyone know how the roster limit works?
I know it’s 15, but my question is… does that include players in the NBDL?
I mean, is it possible to have 12 guys, plus 3 inactives, plus a couple players in the D-League?
Or do the D-Leaguers count in your 15?
The Utah Jazz
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
From what I understand
Players assigned to the D-League are automatically put on the Inactive List. So they count towards the 15 spots.
by Basketball John on May 22, 2008 11:30 AM MDT up reply actions
Dang.
I guess the Jazz have players/picks to trade, unless they plan on blowing their 2nd round picks just for fun.
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