FanPost

Two guards is the way to go!


The idea has been tossed around a fair amount on message boards and most astutely pronounced by Allthatjazzbasketball in this previous article... http://www.slcdunk.com/2011/5/30/2198118/the-3-pick-and-the-12-pick-are-not-a-zero-sum-point-guard-game ... but what I have yet to see is one "professional" running a draft board on a big website that has the jazz taking two guards, yet it is exactly that result that gets me excited about this draft, not the big men.

I'll lay it out there, I cringe at Enes Kanter, Jan Vesely, Jonas Valanciunas, etc. Like Allthatjazz said before, you really aren't adding anything with kanter over anybody we have now. I think we do need a more viable option at center and hopefully a memo return will help that, but I certainly do get excited over some of the guard prospects in this draft. I want to outline a couple of scenarios that I would like to see come true above any others and I just hope the KOC and the jazz are thinking along the same lines.

More after the Jump... (do i even need the jump, sorry this is my first post! i've just seen jazzyute do it a lot on the blocku..)

Scenario One: Draft stays fairly static, Jazz draft Brandon Knight at #3 and Jimmer Fredette at #12.

This is ideal for a number of reasons, the first is that both picks are high quality, high character picks, Knight's and Fredette's intangibles are ideal, both outstanding students, hard-working guys, would represent the jazz well etc. We can debate every which way the facets of both of their games, but I see Knight being a very solid PG of the future, see Calipari's comments in Tribune, previous kentucky/memphis Pg's etc... and Fredette being a deadly shooter/ secondary ball handler who can play in tandem with knight. See Jason Kidd and Jose Barea in the finals, two small guards can exist playing together and not give up anything defensively or offensively, and if you are like me and think that Fredette will eventually be much better than Barea then the possibilities get really exciting, plus he has more size and shooting ability.

Scenario Two: Jimmer gets snatched up by Sacramento at #7, but thats ok, Jazz draft Knight at #3 and Marshon Brooks at #12

I already mentioned why we like Knight at #3 but its Marshon who really gets me intrigued about this number twelve pick. Hopefully you all have seen the highlights of Brooks dropping 52 on Notre Dame, and as much as I hate Kobe, dude looks eerily similar, you gotta watch the footage to see what i'm talking about.

Marshon Brooks 52 Points Every Basket and PTI (via PCFriars07)

The biggest knock on Brooks is that he has a horrendous shot selection, and simply doesn't play smart basketball. I can make excuses about him being the only good player on Providence and having to take a lot of dumb shots but lets recognize that his shot selection needs to improve. Well to me that sounds like the most correctable part of a basketball game to me! Get the kid in a jazz uni and we'll see if the system makes his shot selection improve, not a problem in my mind. He's also more of a 2 than jimmer would fit well alongside Knight and has ridiculous athleticism to help the jazz defend the perimeter and all the offensive perks that come along with a 39 inch vert.

Scenario Three: (Perhaps the most implausible yet the most desirable in my mind) Use some combination of picks as bait and help revamp what needs fixing.

One possibility: Trade Al Jefferson and the #3 pick to Indiana for Roy Hibbert and the #15 pick. Draft Reggie Jackson at #15 and Bismack Biyombo/Marshon Brooks at #12.

This scenario is more of a fantasy than anything else although being my nieve self think that such a trade could be perfectly plausible. Indiana wouldn't give up roy hibbert without a lot in return, enter Al jefferson, a 20 and 10 guy, and the move up to the number 3 pick. Indiana would love the ability to grab a better PG in Knight or maybe someone they couldn't get at 15 like Biyombo or Kanter, or maybe even guarantee fredette is there for the taking and nab him at #3 either way they would love the ability with the pick and adding a scoring machine in Jefferson to sweeten the deal. For the Jazz I would be excited in so many ways, upgrading to a legit defensive post presence in the 7'2'' Hibbert that the jazz have been lacking for so long, getting rid of Jeffersons huge contract and defensive liability, getting younger and more athletic, etc. Hibbert would be awesome but the real story here is if the jazz think they can still get a decent point guard at #12 or #15, I think they can in Reggie Jackson. Before all of you go crazy on me, let me explain, or better yet let HIM explain...

Reggie Jackson #0 Boston College (via Ballatologist)

... the reason you see a dunk reel from the PG is because he has a freakish 7 foot wingspan at 6'3'' so obviously his size is not an issue, I'm not sure if i'm sold but another prospect that I just am really excited about. You can easily grab Jackson at #15 if nothing else changes although he is coming off an injury and not working out with teams yet, so he's relatively sleeping right now, but that could change if he starts blowing minds at workouts, chances are he'll be available at #15. At #12 I think you have to take Biyombo is he is still around, some mocks having him go in front, some behind the 12th pick so its possible. Biyombo is the only big guy i'm sold on in the draft, if he's here at #12 I hope we take him because his athleticism and defense are something the jazz could really use, including his 7'7'' wingspan... sensing a theme here...

Bismack Biyombo records a triple-double, dominates the competition at the 2011 Nike Hoop Summit (via timfsbrown)


... If he is not available then again Brooks would be an interesting pick.

This would be my ultimate lineups to happen via this years draft/trades, and again just bear in mind they could be improbable but still fun to consider...

PG -- Knight -- Harris

SG -- Hayward -- Fredette

SF -- Milsap -- Miles

PF -- Favors -- Jefferson

C- Okur -- Fesenko

or maybe...

PG -- Knight -- Harris

SG -- Hayward -- Brooks

SF -- Miles -- Milsap

PF -- Favors -- Jefferson

C -- Okur -- Fesenko

Both of those are exciting backcourt scenarios... and a lot of players are interchangeable at different spots so i'm just having fun with the placement of some players.

Now to exciting Frontcourt scenarios with my fantasy trade with Indiana...

PG -- Jackson -- Harris

SG -- Hayward -- Brooks

SF -- Miles -- Milsap

PF -- Favors -- Jefferson

C -- Hibbert -- Okur

Or with Biyombo....

PG -- Jackson -- Harris

SG -- Harward -- Miles

SF -- Milsap -- Evans

PF -- Favors -- Biyombo

C -- Hibbert -- Okur

Imagine a frontcourt of Hibbert, Favors, Biyombo, Milsap, Evans, Okur.... Scary... Imagine having Favors, Hibbert and Biyombo on the court at the same time... makes Gasol, Odom and Bynum look like pansies, or even Favors, Jefferson, and Biyombo without the trade would be a scary frontcourt, so much length. Ultimately in my crazy mind I would envision something like this...

Reggie Jackson, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Bismack Biyombo and Roy Hibbert starting and dominating for once... DEFENSIVELY, I would really love to see that...

Am I crazy, well probably this is more likely...

Brandon Knight, Jimmer Fredette, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Al Jefferson, still fun, can't wait to see what happens!

Let me know what you guys think about the Draft!!!

All comments are the opinion of the commenter and not necessarily that of SLC Dunk or SB Nation.