I predict a surprise Jazz pick!!

[HolyToledo]

The last few years the Jazz have come up with a surprise pick as they keep their info in house. Often over the years, a guy falls to them by surprise such as Brewer, Maynor, and Kosta. This year I think the Jazz do a reach pick of James Anderson SG...Im not alone, CBS Sportsline writer (Brian Levenson) also has the Jazz picking him. I would not be upset with him as the pick as he is a great shooter. I would want the Jazz to trade down and add another #1 pick as he might be available later in round 1.

I prefer Anderson over Babbit!! WHich one do you guys prefer?

[QuantumMacgyver]

My impression is that if Babbitt and Aldrich weren't white, then a lot of people would favor either pick a lot more than they do now. Neither players would be bad additions, 9 is just too high for either. The problem is that none of the projected players available at 9 are worthy top 10 picks.

Here's hoping the jazz can find a way to land Monroe without having to give up Millsap.(or DWIll obviously) Everyone else on the team is fair game.


*edit

[StocktonShorts]

My impression is that if Babbitt and Aldrich weren't white, then a lot of people would favor either pick a lot more than they do now.

I just get this sinking feeling that the Jazz organization values them more for marketing purposes because they're white. It's a cynical view to be sure, but I'm having a hard time shaking it.

[carrottop12]

3 things.

1. No way James Anderson goes that high, if the Jazz want him, they can trade back and get him.

2. 9 Isn't at all too high for guys both project to be above average starters in the league, the thing that makes them look strange is that from 7-15 the talent level is so similar it's hard to figure out who to draft.

3. The most marketable asset is winning, and the Jazz now this as well as anyone.

[QuantumMacgyver]

My impression is that if Babbitt and Aldrich weren't white, then a lot of people would favor either pick a lot more than they do now.

I just get this sinking feeling that the Jazz organization values them more for marketing purposes because they're white. It's a cynical view to be sure, but I'm having a hard time shaking it.

This actually couldn't be further from the truth. Look at the Jazz drafts over the last 10 years:
2009
Rnd Name College/HS/Country Note
1 Eric Maynor VA Commonwealth
2 Goran Suton Michigan State

2008
Rnd Name College/HS/Country Note
1 Kosta Koufos Ohio State University
2 Ante Tomic KK Zagreb (CRO)
2 Tadija Dragicevic Red Star Belgrade (SRB)

2007
Rnd Name College/HS/Country Note
1 Morris Almond Rice University
2 Herbert Hill Providence University

2006
Rnd Name College/HS/Country Note
1 Ronnie Brewer University of Arkansas
2 Dee Brown Illinois
2 Paul Millsap Louisiana Tech University

2005
Rnd Name College/HS/Country Note
1 Deron Williams Illinois
2 C. J. Miles Skyline High School
2 Robert Whaley Walsh University

2004
Rnd Name College/HS/Country Note
1 Kris Humphries Minnesota
1 Kirk Snyder Nevada
1 Pavel Podkolzine Varese (Italy)

2003
Rnd Name College/HS/Country Note
1 Aleksandar Pavlovic Serbia
2 Maurice Williams Alabama

2002
Rnd Name College/HS/Country Note
1 Ryan Humphrey Notre Dame
2 Jamal Sampson California

2001
Rnd Name College/HS/Country Note
1 Raul Lopez None
2 Jarron Collins Stanford

2000
Rnd Name College/HS/Country Note
1 DeShawn Stevenson Washington Union (CA) HS
2 Kaniel Dickens Idaho

Now I'm not sure who some of these players even are, let alone their skin color, but there are at least 13 not-white players drafted by the Jazz over the last ten years, and only 7 white players(that I can be sure of).

So the Jazz have actually drafted twice as many not-white players as white players.

Plus, just in the last 6 years the Jazz Have signed/extended or traded for Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams, Wes Mathews, Sandiata Gaines, Othyrus Jeffers, Ronnie Price, Derek Fisher and Paul Millsap. While the only white guys they signed/extended or traded for, that I can think of, were Korver, Memo, Fes, and AK.

I think the idea that the Jazz prefer white players is more of an example of reverse racism. Where people view the Jazz as racist, because they are in a predominantly white state, which in turn is a racist judgment. So the very people who view the Jazz as racist, are actually being racist themselves.

*Note: I'm sure I am missing some players who were signed/extended or traded for over the last six years. This was just off the top of my head.

[DByrne86]

Ryan Humphrey was traded for Curtis Borchardt and no way you're going to count Jarron Collins as black. The ratio of white:black players in the NBA is like 1 to 4. Utah's ratio of white players drafted to black players drafted is 1 to 1.5. That's an amazing differential. Your post did an awesome job of proving how biased towards white players the Jazz front office is, which I assume is the opposite of what you intended.

[carrottop12]

So in the past 9 years, there have been a total of 16 white players chosen in the top 10 picks of the draft. This includes white Europeans such as Pau Gasol and Ricky Rubio etc.

In the same 9 year span, there were 26 white players chosen in the last 10 picks of the first round.

As you can see, trends tend to show that more white players are selected at the end of the first round than at the beginning.

Meaning? Since the Jazz draft in the later part of the first round more often than not, odds are we'll draft more white players than a team like the Clippers who are almost always in the lottery.

[outerspacefella]

Just stop making sense Bat. This black/white thing is absolutely senseless.

Now, on the actual subject of this thread: I really don't think the Jazz will pick a "surprise" dude; they will play it safe and smooth (which is a good thing in my eyes BTW).

IMHO the Jazz will pick one of Monroe, Udoh, Davis, Aldrich; they're just downplaying it a little bit.

If all of them are gone then probably Aminu is sliding down, so the Jazz either pick him or Babbit or Henry, or trade down trying to get 2 guys in this deep draft, or may be pick for another team willing to pay some price for the guy they're in love with...

[QuantumMacgyver]

Ryan Humphrey was traded for Curtis Borchardt and no way you're going to count Jarron Collins as black. The ratio of white:black players in the NBA is like 1 to 4. Utah's ratio of white players drafted to black players drafted is 1 to 1.5. That's an amazing differential. Your post did an awesome job of proving how biased towards white players the Jazz front office is, which I assume is the opposite of what you intended.

Wow. That's pretty damn racist! Are you implying that because he isn't a thug that he doesn't count as black?! Pretty damn racist statement DByrne. Do you live in Provo?

So in the past 9 years, there have been a total of 16 white players chosen in the top 10 picks of the draft. This includes white Europeans such as Pau Gasol and Ricky Rubio etc.

In the same 9 year span, there were 26 white players chosen in the last 10 picks of the first round.

As you can see, trends tend to show that more white players are selected at the end of the first round than at the beginning.

Meaning? Since the Jazz draft in the later part of the first round more often than not, odds are we'll draft more white players than a team like the Clippers who are almost always in the lottery.

^^^ +1 Nice work Bat

[Gothapotamus]

So let me see if I understand this, you berate someone's racism and spew back an equally bigotted comment about living in Provo? What was the implication there, that he was a Mormon and that all Mormons are racist? That's clear logic if you ask me. (sarcasm heavy on that last sentence)

[QuantumMacgyver]

So let me see if I understand this, you berate someone's racism and spew back an equally bigotted comment about living in Provo? What was the implication there, that he was a Mormon and that all Mormons are racist? That's clear logic if you ask me. (sarcasm heavy on that last sentence)

It is 100% a bigotted comment!!! Ever been to Provo? Easily the most racist place I've ever been!

And now we find ourselves in another racist conundrum. I never said it had anything to do with being Mormon. That was your bigotted assumption. I will agree that I am prejudiced against Provo-ites. I'm not proud of it, but I'll admit it. You assume it's because they are Mormon. Absolutely nothing to do with being Mormon, or not. I have lived in Provo, and I have many darker skinned family members. Provo is by far the most racist place I have ever been. I've lived in P.G., Draper, SLC, Kearns, Provo, Orem, St. George, and parts of California. Almost all heavy in Mormon population, but none nearly as racist as Provo.

So to answer your question as to whether you "understand this", yes and no. Am I implying that people living in Provo are more likely to be racist than people living in other parts of Utah? -Yes. Am I implying that Mormons are racist? -No. Quite a difference in saying people from Provo are more likely to be racist than implying that Jarron Collins isn't "black enough". Hardly an "equally bigotted comment".

[hoops4life]

oh wow... this is going down hill very fast.

I thought the Jaron Collins statement was racist but the Provo comment isn't much better at all.

[QuantumMacgyver]

My apologies if anyone thought I was ripping on Mormons. Not the case at all. Just harping on Provo in general. So my apologies if I offended anyone who is Mormon, or otherwise.

[ColdBlue]

I thought the Collins comment was done with humor. Pointing a finger and playing the race card makes you guys look like a bunch of uptight Utards who live in a white only world.

Besides if you think the Jazz are loaded with white players by coincedence, then you are in denial.

[outerspacefella]

...and no way you're going to count Jarron Collins as black. ....

Wow. That's pretty damn racist! Are you implying that because he isn't a thug that he doesn't count as black?! Pretty damn racist statement DByrne. Do you live in Provo?

I really can't decide what bothers me more: the former comment or the later assumption...

[outerspacefella]

Besides.... "Mormon" is not a race... just saying.....

[outerspacefella]

Sports fan, race and religion; no way this thing ends up being nice....
Hey mods, doesn't it seem sane to lock it?

[eyeontheprize]

From what looks to be left @ 9 we better take Aldrich or Davis.

[DByrne86]

This goes way beyond a surprise. Kevin O'Connor is a terrible GM.

[BarneyGumble]

Sorry, no surprise. Its the typical "Sloan-type" player....an overacheiving white guy.