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I'm thinking back to the 2006 draft and most people didn't think Brewer would still be around for the Jazz. I've seen it mentioned recently at the number of people who wanted JJ and I am thinking about how lucky the Jazz are that Brew fell to them. Here are the names of players picked ahead of him.

Andrea Bargnani
Lamarcus Aldridge
Adam Morrison
Tyrus Thomas
Shelden Williams
Brandon Roy
Randy Foye
Rudy Gay
Patrick O'Bryant
Saer Sene
JJ Redick
Hilton Armstrong
Thabo Sefelosha

So looking at that list I picked the guys I would put ahead of him if the draft were redone today and I came up with Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay and Lamarcus Aldridge. I honestly think Ronnie Brewer has been the fourth best player out of that draft with Paul Millsap coming up 5th.

Ronnie has been a stud, and though overall it was a pretty weak draft was an absolute power house for the Jazz with Ronnie and Paul. Props to Ronnie, Paul and the Jazz brass for making this draft a gem. What a steal Ronnie was at the end of the lottery.

The jazz are the absolute winners of this draft, no doubt about it.

I remember that I wanted the Jazz to pick Brewer, Millsap and Dee Brown and they ended up with all 3 of them. I never thought Brewer would be available though. He was projected to go somewhere between 9 and 13. I could not believe when the Sixers went for Sefolosha instead of Brewer. Great, great pick for the Jazz.

Thank you Orlando for drafting JJ Redick! We should send them a gift basket or something.

Brewer fell to us because people didn't think he can shoot. He may not be the best shooter, but the dude can SCORE!

He can play what is called DEFENSE.

he really doesnt need to score in jazz's offensive system. as long as he stays on his man and alters shots, i am a happy panda.

ElTurco wrote:he really doesnt need to score in jazz's offensive system. as long as he stays on his man and alters shots, i am a happy panda.

This is somewhat true, but after the game last night, I don't think we win that game without Brewers 4th quarter. He stopped the sixers dead in their tracks and stole the momentum back for the Jazz.

It's interesting that the 2 teams that came out of that draft with the best results are in the same division. I would say what the Blazers got was pretty much equal to what we got, except that they had much better picking position, so that gives the Jazz an edge for making the most out of what they were given. These two teams have also been very good in other recent drafts. Both teams are absolutely loaded with talented young players, the Blazers just happen to be about 3 or 4 years behind us. They have also had the luxury of picking much higher, but they have picked very well. The jury is still out on Oden of course, but I think Rudy Fernandez was probably the best pick they have made to this point. It will be very interesting to see what happens over the years to these teams, and see which of these players stick around.

I still have hopes that Tyrus Thomas will get his act together, but you're absolutely right. I feel embarrassed now to say that I was in the Reddick camp, but I was. Now, I was perfectly happy when we got Brewer, but I didn't think he would be this good this quick. Kudos to KOC.

Well the Blazers are the obvious winners, trading Tyrus Thomas for Aldridge, and Foye for Roy, and Sergio Rodriguez @ 27. Then would definitely come the Jazz who got Brewer @ 14, and Dee Brown and Millsap @ 46 and 47. Third would have to be the Grizzlies who traded Battier for Gay.

This draft class just really sucked aside of a handful of players. Incredible that we got 2 good defensive players in such a bad draft class.

I'm now embarassed to say that I was among the others who were disappointed when Redick, Sene and Patrick O'Bryant were picked ahead of Brewer. I kind of felt like we got the consolation prize, and now Brewer would have been picked between 4-7 in that draft.

In the last two games, Brewer is averaging 14 ppg, 5 rpg, 8 assists and 5.5 steals. That's an amazing back-to-back performance. If he can average even 14 / 4 / 4.5 and 2.5 per game for the season, we'll be in great shape.

Ronnie Brewer is a stud. In a time where many players are so naturally gifted that they take it for granted, stop working and often become nothing as their talent wastes away, players like Brewer come in with a strong determination to perfect their game.

He did it last year, and he's doing it again this year. All of his previous weaknesses...lateral footwork on defense, a questionable jumper, and average rebounding....are fading away. He's shooting 45% from 3 and still getting his buckets inside, all while averaging 8 assists in the last 2 games? That's more than most point guards in the league.

Seriously, props to Jerry Sloan on this one. He has a way of making or breaking players; Brewer just took the challenge and will be rewarded for the rest of his career.

This team, as far as I can tell, has done the right thing by staying pretty much the same over the offseason.

I wanted JJ Reddick too, and I never liked Brewer enough. But the man has worked hard, and he deserves all of the recognition he is getting. I would consider Millsap being more of a steal than Brewer, or probably even Maxiell, but Brewer is definitely up there. Brewer is making a bid for All-Star, and once Nash, Billups, Kidd and T-Mac start being useless, Roy and Brewer will come in.

Again, I do consider Korver, Kirilenko, Price, and Millsap more of steals than Brewer. Again, the man is a stud, and love that he is D first, and O later.

GO BULLS!!!!!

Knowing what we know now, if we did that draft over again, I bet Brewer would go top 5 just behind Roy, Aldridge, and Gay and Millsap would be top 10. We definitely got 2 steals in that draft.

One of the worst drafts ever.

Tons of busts who came out way too **** early and got drafted too **** high (Williams)

I was more in the Sene camp but I wasn't upset at all with Brewer.

Fukin AAAA

I can proudly say that, after briefly becoming enamored with Redick's shooting ability, I really wanted Brewer, but I was pretty surprised when he fell to us. I had high expectations, but I was worried that, as a player who handled the ball a lot in college who couldn't really shoot, he might have trouble fitting in. I had no idea he'd work this hard, fit in so perfectly and endear himself to Sloan so quickly.

agree with you

I was doing backflips when Reddick was drafted before us. When it became Sene or Brewer on the board I was able to relax. I'm just glad Brewer fell into our laps. Seems like Kosta did the same this year.

Still got to remember the Lopez and Humphries picks. Even when players like Jefferson or Parker fall into our laps we don't always get them. You have to be lucky and smart.