Who is this guy?

Just a little over two years ago as a senior, Alec Burks was leading Grandview to the Missouri 5A state championship. Prior to that, at the start of his senior season, the University of Colorado had swooped in and recruited and got him to commit in November of 2008. As Tom Sensler of the Denver Post points out, the Buffs got a steal,

Had Burks not signed early, other suitors surely would have come calling, because Burks broke out during his senior season, averaging 23 points per game and leading Grandview to the state championship game in Missouri's largest classification. He was selected the state's Gatorade player of the year.

Burks would go on to win Big 12 freshmen of the year after shooting 54% from the field and 35% from three. Those numbers would take a dip in his sophomore year as he took on more of the workload.

He impressed scout and declared for the NBA draft even though he had two years of eligibility left and a lockout looming in the NBA. He had a good workout with the Jazz who ended up drafting him even if he didn't know who Tyrone (Coach Borbin) was.

Just as Colorado may have gotten a steal when they recruited him before his breakout senior year of high school, the Jazz may have gotten a steal in the draft. He'll be compared to former Jazz men Ronnie Brewer and Wesley Matthews. Though is poor shooting performance in the pre-season might suggest otherwise, he'll develop into a better shooter than Brewer. If he becomes the player that Wesley Matthews was, minus the three goggles, Jazz fans and the Jazz front office will be happy.

Expectations are being heaped up Burks going forward despite #12 picks not having a good track record. He'll be part of the core unit for the Jazz for at least the next several years and will be an integral part of the rebuilding process. He has high hopes for the team and the young guys. We can only hope he lives up to those expectations.

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Who is this guy?

Too big yo. G-Unit. G-Time. OG-Time. Flash. White. Unathletic.

Whatever you want to call him, it doesn't matter. He's taken flak for eating at Olive Garden in the heart of one of the biggest cities in the world. He took more flak over the summer for playing in a professional Starcraft II tournament. Of course we all know that he was booed when he was selected with the #9 pick -- the unprotected Knicks pick for crying out loud. He drew the ire of Deron Williams for not running the right route on a fast break. Oh, and there was a rap song.

No matter. All of it. It doesn't appear to affect him one bit. He keeps going out there playing basketball unfazed by the criticism, comments, and jokes.

In just one short year, he went from almost-NCAA champion to the face of an NBA franchise. When you look at his path over the past 18+ months, it's remarkable. He led the Butler Bulldogs to upsets over the 1-seed Syracuse Orangemen, the 2-seed Kansas State Wildcats (both coincidentally in the ESA) before knocking off fellow 5-seed Michigan State to make the NCAA finals. That team came this close to being the first 5-seed to win the NCAA tournament.

That performance along with his workout with Kevin O'Connor and interview was enough to convince the Jazz front office to take him with the #9 pick which was about 3-6 picks higher than where he was projected. In typical Jazz fan fashion, this led to a chorus of boos at the draft party and left many scratching their heads.

#improveeveryday. That's Hayward's daily twitter affirmation. If you look at his numbers from last season, you'll see that nearly every stat went up as the season wore on. He became more confident in his shot but wasn't aggressive enough on offense. Often times he would end up deferring back to the point guard and resetting the play. That too improved over time, especially after Deron Williams was traded. He took on a larger role with the team after that and the added injuries towards the end of the season resulted in a sharp increase in Hayward's minutes.

Now he's become one of the faces of the Jazz franchise. When the Jazz held the open house to reveal the new alternate jersey, the two players featured on the backdrop were Derrick Favors and Hayward. He's also featured on the Jazz pocket schedule with a picture that looks as if he's cradling a plasma ball instead of a basketball.

The future. The face of the franchise. Whatever you want to call him. It doesn't matter. He'll continue to ignore all of it and keep playing.

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Who Is This Guy?

For the second time in his career, Devin Harris was traded for another point guard that his team at the time felt was an upgrade. That of course doesn't include the draft-night trade that sent him Dallas from Washington.

So while Harris has been a sought-after commodity, he's never really been able to settle down with one team. While he's been attractive enough as a trade piece and someone with good talent -- including an All-star appearance in 2009 -- he hasn't quite been the player that have teams calling to inquire about him.

Does that change in Utah? When Kevin O'Connor traded Deron Williams, Derrick Favors was the key piece in return. At the time, Harris was viewed at the time as little more than a throw-in player to give the Jazz a point guard. However, O'Connor told him that the Jazz traded for him as well and that he was in their plans. This was backed up later when ESPN reported that Dallas had tried to trade for Harris after the Carmelo Anthony fell through to New Jersey. The Mavericks' intent was then to flip Harris to the Jazz for Williams. They knew that the Jazz had interest in Harris.

So what is Harris' role with the Jazz going forward? The question from since he's been here has been whether he's the point guard to lead the young core of Jazz players for the next 4-5 seasons. He only has two years left on his current deal, after which he can become an unrestricted free agent. With the 2012 draft short on quality PG stock, I could see the Jazz sticking with him through his deal and trying to sign him to an extension next summer. Though the team has a group of talented young players, the Jazz front office will want a veteran to lead them. If Harris wants to be here, I imagine the Jazz will want him as well.

That is of course unless -- you guessed it -- the Jazz feel like they can offer him up for a better point guard.

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Who is this Guy?

Do you realize that Memo is going on his 8th season as a member of the Utah Jazz? In fact, he should pass Deron Williams for 10th all-time in minutes played in a Jazz uniform this season. Hard to believe that it's been over 7 1/2 years since the Jazz signed the Detroit restricted free agent.

He was one of the core components of Kevin O'Connor's last rebuilding reloading project. He was brought on with Carlos Boozer in order to quickly build the team back into a contender. He brought a dynamic component to the team, an efficient three-point shot that opened up the middle for Boozer. Surprisingly, he only shot 27%

in his first full season in Utah. Since then, it's been Memo, Money, Three! The high arcing shot from deep has been his trademark during his tenure with the Jazz. He's probably missed out on a few hundred points though by having his toe on the line.

That next season is when he took over the starting center position for good. Since that time, Memo has played in at least 72 games a season until he tore his Achilles tendon in the 2010 playoffs against Denver and missed most of the 2011 season. In normal circumstances, he shouldn't have even been playing due to the tendinitis in his Achilles. However, it was game one of the playoffs and his team needed him. He got a pain-killing shot and went to work. He was putting his career on the line for the good of the team.

That's part of the reason why I was disappointed to hear the rumors this season that the Jazz could use the amnesty clause on him. I didn't think it would happen given that it didn't give the Jazz anything other than some cap space. Sure, he still would have been paid, but it would have been an unceremonious dumping of one of the most beloved Jazz players in recent history and one that has been nothing but loyal to the team.

Now he's in the last year of his contract, an extension he signed two years ago after he opted in on the last year of his initial six-year deal. From all accounts from training camp, he's fully recovered from his Achilles injury and looks better than ever. Even more, he hasn't reported back pain which was one of the main things that kept him out last season. He should have a typical Memo season though with reduced minutes. The dynamic he brings to the team though can't be overlooked. With a squad that lacks a consistent three-point shooter, he may be called upon more often that we think.

He'll also be tutoring and mentoring the future in Enes Kanter. The two have developed an instant bond it seems given their common homeland. Kanter has the range of Memo right now and some better post moves. In time, he could develop into the next Turkish NBA All-star. It has to be an honor for Okur to help a fellow native of his home country develop and mature in the NBA.

Memo's stated that he has about 3-4 more years in him. Hopefully he gets more than this season to help Kanter. Wherever that may end up, I look forward to him toeing three-pointer for years to come.

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"So you're here to save the world. What do you say to something like that?" - Cypher, The Matrix

Who Is This Guy?

Sorry, those are the expectations kid. "Any package would have to include Derrick Favors." That's a general idea of what Kevin O'Connor said to Billy King after the Nets GM half-heartedly asked if Deron Williams was available. After King picked himself up off the floor, the two began to put together a trade for the two-time All-star.

For Derrick Favors it was a sweet release from the life of constant trade rumors and not knowing which day would be his last in a Nets uniform. New Jersey was trying to trade the #3 pick in the 2010 draft as soon as they got it. They ended up drafting the best player available in their eyes. That's the method for a lot of teams. Their reason wasn't to get the best player to play and develop. It was to get the best player that would provide them the most in return for a trade. Whether it was to the Nuggets or - unknown to most at the time - to the Jazz, he was going get traded regardless.

Just when Jazz fans had returned to any semblance of normalcy after Jerry Sloan stepped down, the Jazz pulled the trigger on the trade that would jet them back to shock and bewilderment. In the span of two weeks, the franchise had done a complete 360 as the Mailman would say.

The reason I bring all that up in a post about Derrick Favors is to try to project a little bit of what Sloan and Williams meant to the team. While Derrick Favors isn't replacing Sloan, he's immediately become the face of the franchise in the eyes of many fans. The team's identity for so many years was that of a hard-nosed, executing, and precision team under Jerry. Even after Stockton and Malone retired, that aura still stood with the team with Sloan as coach.

That's why the expectations are high for Favors. He obviously has the physical tools to become something special. And while he's not vocal about it, his competitiveness is as high as anyone else's. We've seen a glimpse of what he can do and now we want him to do that all the time. In one of his best games of the year, he put up 14 & 11 in 30 minutes against the Lakers and their bigs late in the season. Fans are expecting more.

While the Jazz are still in a hybrid mode of rebuilding and playing the vets, Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward, Enes Kanter, Alec Burks, and the others are the future. For those that were at the jersey unveiling last week, did you notice who was on the backdrop? Favors and Hayward. That's who the Jazz are promoting.

The future is Favors. We need an All-star in return for our All-NBA player that we once had. Who knows, maybe that All-star ends up being Kanter or Burks. But the expectation is on Favors.

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Who Is This Guy?

Well, we don't know. But we get to find out. Thankfully for us, and for Kanter, we get to find out.

Kanter burst on to the scene at the 2010 Nike Hoop Summit where he put up 34 & 13. The game is just a couple of levels above the Pro Player Classic from this summer in terms of defense played. That event is organized in large part by Rich Sheubrooks who just so happens to now be the director of pro and global scouting for the Jazz.

His arrival in the NBA has been a long time coming. After playing sparingly professionally and receiving an allowance in Turkey, Kanter turned down two offers from other professional basketball teams so that he could play ball in the states. After he finally committed to Kentucky, he was denied the opportunity to play by the NCAA because of that allowance he had received a couple of years prior.

So by the time he finally takes the court in a Jazz uniform, it will have been nearly two years since he played competitive basketball outside of Eurobasket this past year. When he was drafted by the Jazz, the pick scared me. He had the biggest bust potential to me namely because of the uncertainty surrounding him. The NBA is strewn with the corpses of promising big men that failed that had more experience than Kanter.

He still scares me despite the good reports coming out of training camp and from recent statements by Chad Ford. The biggest reason is that the Jazz traded their franchise player and took a huge risk in regards to the future of the franchise. Derrick Favors and Devin Harris are solid pieces in that trade and perhaps Favors becomes worth it all by himself. Until then, the two draft picks the Jazz received is where this trade will be evaluated. They lucked into winning the lottery when they were able to move up from the #6 spot to #3. If this pick doesn't pan out, the trade becomes a black mark on the franchise.

In Kanter's first year, nobody is expecting much. He'll be given a long leash but needs to be developed better than previous Jazz big men. Granted, most of the big men projects weren't as highly touted. The front office recently told Kanter that this was a journey. That may be the case, but considering what the Jazz gave up to get him, the expectations will be higher.

Finally though, we can see what the team has in Kanter. This season may have more learning opportunities then moments to shine, but at least we'll finally start to get an idea of that we have.

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Who Is This Guy?

Big Al is just trying to settle down and find a place he can call home on the court. He was moved as the key part of the package that sent Kevin Garnett to Boston. After having little team success in Minnesota, he was once again sent packing to Utah to try and fill the void left by Carlos Boozer and in part to keep Deron Williams happy. That didn't go so well. While nothing is imminent, it would appear that Al is on his way out of Utah when you consider what Utah has spent in order to bring in Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors.

Jefferson begins his 8th season in the best shape of his career after making the P3 facility his home for the past six months. As I mentioned in yesterday's Downbeat, Al has plenty to prove this season. As far as how those workouts have helped, trainer Mark McKown had this to say about Jefferson,

"I will go on the record right now in front of God and everybody. He is the most explosive, the most athletic overall, the strongest and most stable from foot to head than he's ever been, and with the lowest body fat ever.

"If he doesn't have his best season ever ... I will be shocked."

If the Jazz are to have playoff aspirations, a lot of that will depend on Jefferson's play. Can Al take things to the next level or have we seen everything that he can do already? Granted, what he can do already isn't anything to scoff at. He's a workman that will still give you 20 & 10 most nights but he hasn't been dominant. Most nights I came away a bit shocked that he had put up the numbers that he had. It's a quiet 20 & 10 to be sure. But few nights did I feel that he dominated. It's kind of bizarre.

Perhaps though he finally has that extra motivation to play better help defense, to pass out of double-teams more, and become the leader that most thought he would be. Maybe he sees the young group of guys coming up and has decided that he's not going to be traded again while other guys take his place. Hopefully that adds up to a big year this season.

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We're kicking off player previews with a format where multiple authors are contributing. These will run through the start of the regular season.

Who Is This Guy?

This image embodies what Paul Millsap is all about. This has been his MO for most of his life and not just his time on the court. This is how he has built his reputation and how he's become so endearing to Jazz fans. And that's not in a "he has hustle but no talent" kind of endearing. From his rookie season on he's had to fight for everything he has. This season is no exception. Just a year after taking over the starting PF position, there's more competition than ever for his spot and for minutes. Despite doing nothing that would deserve losing his starting spot, he's received no assurances that it's his. That's just the way he likes it.

Despite leading the nation in rebounding for three straight years at La. Tech, Millsap wasn't taken until the 47th pick in the 2006 draft. He's played the role of the underdog ever since. Part of the reason why he dropped, and almost fell out of the draft, was that he was considered undersized for the PF position. That remains true; he's often score upon by bigger fours in the league.

One of his hallmarks has been that he continues to improve every year. He adds different elements to his game and isn't showing signs of slowing down. He became more of an option on offense in his first full year as a starter. Because he's often at a height disadvantage, he had to add a mid-range game to his repertoire, one that was the best in the league according to John Hollinger. As a result, his offensive rebounding percentage dropped as he wasn't hanging around the basket as much looking for scraps. He became one of the options on offense. If you compare his offensive rebounding numbers with Malone's, you'll see that they're pretty similar.

As we move forward into the 2012 season, Millsap still has plenty left to prove. As he increased his playing time last season, most of his offensive numbers were career highs. However, on defense, his numbers slipped. Despite playing more minutes, his defensive win shares dropped from 3.5 in 2010 to 2.5. A lot of that has to due with the fact that he's playing against starters now instead of second-team units. He can become a defensive leader of the team if he can improve his defensive rebounding rate while maintaining his low foul rate. That's right, low foul rate. Part of the knock on Millsap when he entered the league was his high foul percentage despite nearly every rookie having that problem. He's managed to get that rate down to just 3.8 fouls per game, something that not many thought he could do.

Millsap's future with the team is an unknown commodity. His attractive contract and high value make him the subject of many trade rumor mills. His value to the Jazz though is huge. He is the embodiment of Jerry Sloan and the Jazz culture. Tough. Plays hurt (he's played in 96% of games). You never question his heart or his work ethic. So why would the Jazz want to send that away?

There are some tough choices to be made in the near future. Young(er) players need playing time, but at what expense? One thing is for sure, it's going to be awfully difficult, if not impossible, to knock Millsap off his spot. There are very few that are going to give you more at such a high level. It's going to have to be taken from him and I wouldn't want to be the one that tries to do that.

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