FanPost

Early thoughts on the 2016 NBA draft in relation to the Jazz


Although the Jazz's halcyon years of consistently picking in the NBA draft lottery (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015) appear to be over for the near future (thankfully), the draft is still important to the Jazz for building team depth.

In 2016, the Jazz have their own 1st and 2nd round picks, and two additional 2nd round picks--the better of the 2nd round picks of Boston and Toronto (via Memphis), which will most likely end up being the Boston 2nd round pick--and the GSW 2nd round pick. Based on reasonable expectations of team records, it is likely the Jazz will not have a draft pick in the lottery or the high second round in 2016, so, in general, the Jazz will be choosing from players on a different talent level than in the past 5-6 years. And, as in the past few years, it is unlikely the Jazz will utilize all of their second round picks to actually choose a player whom they expect to be on the team at some point in time. In fact, because of the low range in which the Jazz's 2nd round picks are likely to fall, the Jazz may not utilize any of such 2nd round picks for actually choosing a player to add to the team.

Whereas we all believe the Jazz will make the play-offs this upcoming season, it is likely the Jazz's 1st round pick will be in the range of #17-22, and the Jazz's own 2nd round pick will be in the range of #47-52. It is likely that Boston will barely sneak into the play-offs in the weak Eastern Conference (based solely on their coach, not on their team's middling talent level), which would likely put the Boston 2nd round pick in the range of #45-47. Finally, it is likely GSW will again have one of the top 4 records in the NBA, which would put the GSW 2nd round pick in the range of #57-60. Thus, the Jazz will likely have a pick in the #17-22 range, another pick in the #45-47 range, a third pick in the #47-52 range, and a fourth pick in the #57-60 range.

Therefore, unlike past years, in 2016 (absent some unexpected trade to move up in the draft) I am not looking forward to possibly drafting a marquee player such as Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Dante Exum, Stanley Johnson, Emmanuel Mudiay, Kristaps Porzingis, Ben Simmons or Skal Labissierre with any of the Jazz picks. Rather, my expectations are much lower for this upcoming season. Yet, we are all well-aware that very good players can still be drafted in the mid-to-late first round (and even in the second round) of the NBA draft--with Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Serge Ibaka, Nicolas Batum, Rudy Gobert, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Rodney Hood and Jordan Clarkson being a few good examples of that reality.

Here are 5 collegiate/international players I have on my "watch list" during the upcoming season as potential 2016 draft picks for the Utah Jazz:

1) Malik Pope, a 6'10" tall-and-long sophomore small forward at SDSU, who has some slick offensive skills--in shooting the 3-point shot, ball-handling, passing, and finishing at the rim--but who needs to get stronger and much better on defense; at this point in time, Pope is a projected to be a mid-to-late 1st round pick;

2) Domantas Sabonis, a 6'10" lefty sophomore power forward at Gonzaga University, who has nice size and length and a developing skill set--son of the legendary Arvidas Sabonis; at this point in time, Sabonis is projected to be a mid-to-late 1st round pick;

3) George De Paula, a 20-year-old 6'5" lefty long-and-tall point guard from Brazil with huge hands, who has some great potential as a playmaker and a defender, but needs to work on being quicker and more explosive, and who needs to develop his skillset much more, especially his shooting; at this point in time, De Paula is projected to be a late 1st round/early 2nd round pick;

4) Alex Poythress, a 6'8" slightly under-sized senior power forward at University of Kentucky, who has great athleticism (lottery level athleticism) and toughness, but who is coming off a season-ending knee injury, and who needs to continue to improve his skillset; Poythress seems to have a knack for making big plays in the crunch-time of big games; at this point in time, Poythress is projected to be a mid-to-late 2nd round pick;

5) Gary Payton II, a 6'2" senior point guard at Oregon State University, who like his father (the legendary Gary Payton) is a very good, tough-nosed defender, and who is becoming a do-everything player for OSU, but still needs overall improvement on his shooting and offensive skills; at this point in time, Payton II is projected to be a mid-to-late 2nd round pick.

I'd like to hear what you all think of the above-described 5 players as potential 2016 Jazz draft prospects, as well as any other players you believe have good potential to be picked by the Jazz in the 2016 NBA draft.

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