Κώστας Κουφός
by Basketball John
on Jun 27, 2008 10:35 AM MDT
in NBA Draft
Kosta Koufos - Your 2008 NIT MVP!
At first glance, this is just another same old, same old, typical stiff white center pick from the Jazz. Whiteness? Check. Tallness? Check 2. Stiffness? Wait a minute. From the few YouTube videos I just watched and from the quick research I've done, he has some athleticism.
Everyone seems to be disappointed because we didn't draft one of the more marquee centers in the draft. But none of those are going to be available at the 23rd pick. I don't know why people expected the Jazz to pick up an Olajuwon in the draft. We all know that we needed a defensive player in the middle, but with the available players, there wasn't anyone else out there that was any more of a sure thing. And we weren't going to get a player that was going to contribute next year anyway. The only way the Jazz fill their need in the draft is if Jason Hart goes Tonya Harding on Deron and we have a high pick. Either that or someone is dumb enough to give us a lottery pick in a couple years.
So you were probably disappointed if you expected this draft to fix our defensive hole. The only way the Jazz are going to get someone to help immediately is through a trade. That could be either through trading for someone or trading two for one to open up a roster spot for a free agent. That's another story though..
Back to the Greek, I mean American, I mean dual-citizen. Are we going to hear more in the local media about how everyone thinks he's Euro than we did about Brewer's broken wrist? I found this quote great from his Wikipedia page,
"Koufos holds dual citizenship of both the United States and Greece, but has chosen to play for the Greek national basketball team."
Because he was really was given an option to play for the US team.
I'm not saying he's going to be an All-Star or even a starter, but Kosta is no Ostertag or Borchardt as far as stiffness. He can put the ball on the floor, he can shoot beyond five feet, and he's only 19.
The Jazz might be the most boring team in the league when it comes to the draft. But you know that they're not drafting anyone with any hint of a questionable character. I mean, Koufos called Deron "Mr. Williams" for crying out loud when D-Will is all of five years older than Kosta. I don't think this will end up being a draft where we look back in a few years and say, "Man, they should have picked DeAndre Jordan." I just don't think there's that talent there.
One thing I am excited for is the Kosta/Fess era. Two seven footers roaming the streets of Orem? If there isn't a camera following them around for "reality" TV, maybe that genre is dying. Shouldn't someone from KJZZ be jumping all over this? Forget NBA potential. The comedy upside from these two should be through the roof. Does anyone know the relationship between Greece and the Ukraine?
This was a very-low risk pick for the Jazz. If he pans out, their geniuses. If not, big deal. He'll be playing in Europe and we'll be preparing for the #3 pick in the 2010 draft. Some projected him to be a lottery pick this year and would have had him in the top ten had he not come out until 2009.
I guess the other bigger part of this draft was the Heat drafting Beasley. It doesn't completely quell the Boozer rumors. But it you would have to think that if Beasely isn't traded today or soon, that having him there limits Boozer's options. What I think happens now is that Boozer will pick up his option and wait for the new CBA to go into effect. I believe they'll be able to make more money under the new CBA. LeBron and Wade signed three only three-year deals for that same reason.
Up next, Deron Williams signs for the max and the key to the city.
Some other notes
- We now have another country that just converted to Jazz fans. First came Russia. Then Turkey. Now Greece. Looks like Italy is next.
- ESPN screwed the viewers over again. They went to commercial break but didn't get back in time for the Jazz pick. They just flashed it on the ticker and then showed a highlight when they came back.
- KOC said they had trade offers, but didn't elaborate.
- We have a new KK.
- Ante Tomic. We'll never hear from him again.
- Tadija Dragicevic. Ditto.
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I agree...
I don’t understand the negativity towards the pick. Everyone acts like the Jazz could have gotten someone else. The only other option I think would have been Mario Chalmers. I wouldn’t have minded they pick him up but I am happy with Ronnie Price as a backup PG.
The only thing I somewhat disagree on it Tomic. I’m not ready to write him off just yet. He is very intriguing. Supposedly a year or so ago he was 6’4 and just shot up so he has the skills of a SG in the body of a 7 footer. The only problem is he doesn’t have the weight. And maybe he’ll never have the weight, but I think it was a good flier pick. Let him stay over in Europe for a couple years (ala AK) and then come over and see what he can do. Hopefully, he puts on some weight.
At the very least, they may be able to use him as a trade piece. In looking at that second round more and more teams are doing that. San Antonio has made an art of stashing guys overseas and then bringing them in. I like it. Having said that, I also like what KOC said last night on the radio. He said that they wouldn’t draft a guy and just keep him over in Europe unless they felt the guy could eventually play in the NBA. I like that logic. If you don’t think you have a player, trade the pick. I’m sure there were takers.
by Ute Awe Man on Jun 27, 2008 1:17 PM MDT 0 recs
It's another safe pick.
He could turn out fine and I think Ford was pretty high on him. He just looks like a guy that will never be able to put on weight. He’d get destroyed in the paint in the NBA.
by Basketball John on
Jun 27, 2008 2:12 PM MDT
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I think I could love both KK's.
And, what does this exactly mean they’ll do with Collins and Fesenko?? Kostas will probably play for the D-league and maybe if we pray a lot for the rest of the summer Collins will realize that he isn’t a good player and will bow out gracefully. Hey, a girl can wish.
by DaniellelovesKK on Jun 27, 2008 4:34 PM MDT 0 recs
he is a good pick
i m Greek and i know Kosta is a very good player he is not a shot blocking machine (we need a guy who can block shots other than ak47) but he is better than Collins and Fesenko he is something in between Nowitzki and Memo .Greece`s coach has him on the national team and he will play for the olympic qualifying tournament next month (if Jerry allows it).
he needs to work hard on the gym(or he will be pushed around in the paint) and improve his low post moves
by yiorgos66 on Jun 27, 2008 4:44 PM MDT 0 recs
Fes & KK2
It could end up being an interesting battle between the 2. If J-Slo is willing to carry 3 C’s (and play youngsters), then both of them could get some burn this season and develop.
I don’t see why not… the truth (sadly) is that this team (as currently construed) won’t be winning it all next season. Letting the guys improve gives us a better shot the season after. No one available at #23 would’ve helped in that regard…
But Koufos is who we got. And now he needs to develop… just playing in the D-League isn’t enough. I know it won’t happen, but eh… it’s worth hoping for.
The Utah Jazz. The Jazz... duh.
The best NBA team in Utah... no doubts about it!
Playing For Pride. Pirates, Utes, Panthers, and more...
Because, in the end, only one team can "win it all".
by UtesFan89 on Jun 27, 2008 10:02 PM MDT 0 recs
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