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I would encourage mock draft creators to ask one question when picking for the Jazz. Which player on the board has the highest ceiling? And take that guy.

Matters not at all if he duplicates someone on the roster. Not at all if you think that the Jazz #1 need is a PG. Not at all if they've already drafted one or two players at that position.

Jazz should be drafting upside only. Figure things out later. Jazz won't be trying to make the playoffs this coming year anyway.

That seems to be Ainge's MO with lottery picks, but not later picks, where he often goes for guys that have translatable NBA skills (e.g. Grant Williams).

babyjax13 wrote:That seems to be Ainge's MO with lottery picks, but not later picks, where he often goes for guys that have translatable NBA skills (e.g. Grant Williams).

You might be right. But, IMHO Ainge would be wrong in doing so. Swing for the fences every time because what the Jazz need most is talent.

that should be the blueprint for them, they should prioritize high ceilings and archetypes, getting a decent role player doesn't move the needle here.

They ended up with GG Jackson in my 2K franchise.

NO-KG-AI wrote:They ended up with GG Jackson in my 2K franchise.

2k has it right. would be a nice pick at 28.

They'll take Cason Wallace.

People probably thought that Jokic's ceiling was an off the bench big with an offensive game. It's hard to project ceiling with some of these guys.

The Jazz were a .500 team and fighting for one of the last playoff seeds before they tanked in February so drafting high floor guys that will improve depth and competition could keep them competitive. There won't be any "high upside" guys still available when they pick because of how bad this draft class is so he doesn't really have a choice. I'm sure Ainge will try to trade up into the top half of the lottery for one of the twins or hope Black falls. He has the ammunition to be very active. It should be a very fun draft with how many teams have multiple picks in a bad draft and will want to trade up, back and out of the first round.

I remember many years ago when the Jazz were graded poorly in the draft for not picking upside with Gordon Hayward at #9. Ended up as a multi year all star and two time max contract player. With the NBA being all about shooting and basketball IQ, drafting on "upside only", length, athleticiam, it's is a good way to shoot yourself in the foot.

jazzfan1971 wrote:I would encourage mock draft creators to ask one question when picking for the Jazz. Which player on the board has the highest ceiling? And take that guy.

I have the Jazz taking Keyonte for this reason precisely.

EvanZ wrote:

jazzfan1971 wrote:I would encourage mock draft creators to ask one question when picking for the Jazz. Which player on the board has the highest ceiling? And take that guy.

I have the Jazz taking Keyonte for this reason precisely.

The Keyonte and JHS thing is that... They have to be like one of the 10 best shooters in NBA history to be very good?

If Jarace Walker learns how to not be soft, he has Blake Griffin tier tools. Keyonte George's realistic upside is Jamal Murray if he's an elite shooter and Steph Curry with mediocre passing if he's the best shooter of all time. He'll probably end up like Jordan Clarkson.

Perceived upside is so freaking overrated. Usually it’s the guys who everyone thinks will be solid pros that end up having a higher ceiling than the raw guys with massive potential.

Big J wrote:Perceived upside is so freaking overrated. Usually it’s the guys who everyone thinks will be solid pros that end up having a higher ceiling than the raw guys with massive potential.

The Ringer's list mostly sucks, but the top 40 is pretty similar to most places, so let's look at it:

https://nbarankings.theringer.com/

Out of the top 40 here, the perceived low-upside guys coming out of the draft either completely changed the sport (Jokic, Curry, Harden, Draymond), massively improved their handle out of college (Mitchell, Halliburton), completely changed their jumpshot (SGA), significantly improved their physical tools out of college (Tatum), or are Devin Booker/Sabonis/Brunson.

29/40 guys were viewed as high to pretty high upside guys pre-draft.

HadAnEffectHere wrote:

Big J wrote:Perceived upside is so freaking overrated. Usually it’s the guys who everyone thinks will be solid pros that end up having a higher ceiling than the raw guys with massive potential.

The Ringer's list mostly sucks, but the top 40 is pretty similar to most places, so let's look at it:

https://nbarankings.theringer.com/

Out of the top 40 here, the perceived low-upside guys coming out of the draft either completely changed the sport (Jokic, Curry, Harden, Draymond), massively improved their handle out of college (Mitchell, Halliburton), completely changed their jumpshot (SGA), significantly improved their physical tools out of college (Tatum), or are Devin Booker/Sabonis/Brunson.

29/40 guys were viewed as high to pretty high upside guys pre-draft.

Well, I’m taking more about the boom or bust types. Not guys like KD and Lebron who had massive upside and also high floors.

MalonesElbows wrote:I remember many years ago when the Jazz were graded poorly in the draft for not picking upside with Gordon Hayward at #9. Ended up as a multi year all star and two time max contract player. With the NBA being all about shooting and basketball IQ, drafting on "upside only", length, athleticiam, it's is a good way to shoot yourself in the foot.

He was an all-star more than once?

I think Kobe Buffkin could be close to the Tyrese Haliburton of this draft. If the Jazz can't move up for Whitmore or Walker, I think Bufkin is a good pick at #9.

I'm also a believer in GG Jackson, but word on the street is that the Jazz aren't going to take him.

jazzfan1971 wrote:

MalonesElbows wrote:I remember many years ago when the Jazz were graded poorly in the draft for not picking upside with Gordon Hayward at #9. Ended up as a multi year all star and two time max contract player. With the NBA being all about shooting and basketball IQ, drafting on "upside only", length, athleticiam, it's is a good way to shoot yourself in the foot.

He was an all-star more than once?

No, but he broke his leg about 5 minutes into his first season after being an All Star.

Catchall wrote:

jazzfan1971 wrote:

MalonesElbows wrote:I remember many years ago when the Jazz were graded poorly in the draft for not picking upside with Gordon Hayward at #9. Ended up as a multi year all star and two time max contract player. With the NBA being all about shooting and basketball IQ, drafting on "upside only", length, athleticiam, it's is a good way to shoot yourself in the foot.

He was an all-star more than once?

No, but he broke his leg about 5 minutes into his first season after being an All Star.

Plus, there's a legitimate argument about him deserving to be an All-Star in 15-16 and 14-15.

HadAnEffectHere wrote:

EvanZ wrote:

jazzfan1971 wrote:I would encourage mock draft creators to ask one question when picking for the Jazz. Which player on the board has the highest ceiling? And take that guy.

I have the Jazz taking Keyonte for this reason precisely.

The Keyonte and JHS thing is that... They have to be like one of the 10 best shooters in NBA history to be very good?

Why?