We've been having some fun with the draft, making a mock draft as a community and spreading rumors and sharing trade scenarios. More than likely there won't be any huge trades with any teams, especially the Jazz. But the rumors and the armchair GMing and the hope, however small, that the Jazz might trade into the first round are 90% of the fun of being a fan during the offseason. That will be the theme of this downbeat: Mock Drafts, Rumors, and measurements. What is your favorite pipe dream for the draft? What is the craziest rumor you have heard?
Here is my personal mock draft. I won't go past #9. I don't want to persuade anyone for our community mock drafts later.
1. Anthony Davis- New Orleans Hornets
2. Thomas Robinson- Charlotte Bobcats
3. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist- Washington Wizards
4. Bradley Beal- Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Harrison Barnes- Sacramento Kings
6. Damian Lillard- Portland Trailblazers
7. Dion Waiters- Golden State Warriors
8. Austin Rivers- Toronto Raptors
9. John Henson- Detroit Pistons
Here is a crazy trade rumor that our own TazzJazzFan was apprised of last night. I don't think it's for real, but some forum poster on realGM believes the Jazz are in advanced talks in a 3 team deal with the Warriors and Bulls. You can see the forum here.
Jazz get: Andris Biedrins, 29th pick, 30th pick, Bulls 2013 1st rounder, CJ Watson
Bulls get: Devin Harris, Dorell Wright, 7th pick, 47th pick
Warriors get: Luol Deng
Feel free to discuss. Is this a good deal?
With all this talk of the draft, i have been looking at some predraft measurements. Here are the predraft measurements for 4 players. See if you can guess who they are.
Player 1- Age: 18 Height: 6'10.25" Wingspan: 7'4.5" Max Vertical: 35.5" Weight: 240
Player 2- Age 19: Height: 6'10.25" Wingspan: 7'4" Max Vertical: 35.5" Weight: 245
Player 3- Age 19: Height: 6'9.75" Wingspan: 7'2" Max Vertical: 30" Weight: 263
Player 4- Age 18: Height: 7'1" Wingspan: 7'3" Max Vertical: 33.5" Weight: 224
Who are the players? Dwight Howard, Derrick Favors, Al Jefferson and Tyson Chandler.
I know that Derrick Favors fancies himself a power forward because he can't imagine matching up against guys like Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum. But Derrick is only 20 years old and he's comparing himself to grown 26 and 28 year old men. I think Derrick Favors is going to end up being a power forward and a center, but I think he's going to end up being big enough, long enough and quick enough to play center for what it's worth.
The Charlotte Observer had a cool story about the new Charlotte Bobcats GM, Rich Cho and the computer program he developed to help him with scouting and such. It makes you wonder what the Jazz use to scout and keep their information. A rolodex? A 1994 Apple computer? But in all seriousness that database sounds incredible. I would really love to see what the Jazz do use to find and decide on the guys they do draft.
With the 10th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, the New Orleans Hornets select?