Scouts Take on Kosta (Hmm...)

Racer X · Post #1 » by **Racer X** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:00 pm

Dont know if anyone caught this little tidbit in the SLTribune's Jazz blog:

"I was talking to a scout before the game and, when the conversation turned to the Jazz, he quickly brought up Koufos' name. When I mentioned that I liked the fluidness to his game, the scout asked me an eye-opening question.

"Not counting Dwight Howard," he said, "how many centers in the NBA under the age of 25 are better -- right now -- than Koufos?"

I told the scout I didn't know, but he made his point. At least one guy thinks the Jazz got the steal of last year's draft, when they took Koufos with the 23rd pick."

That made me think. I guess that doesnt count someone like LaMarcus Aldridge who is centeresque.

Post #2 » by **loserX** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:18 pm

It's rather a silly question. Biedrins, Horford, Bynum, Bogut, and possibly Hawes all off the top of my head are better than Koufos right now...in addition to Dwight, and the 25-year limit being completely arbitrary.

That said, it's nice to know our guy has some promise

carrottop12 · Post #3 » by **carrottop12** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:20 pm

Aldridge, Oden, Biedrins, Bynum, Bogut, M. Gasol, B. Lopez, Perkins, Horford...

Just to name a few. Sorry guys.

fivas14 · Post #4 » by **fivas14** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:24 pm

Aldridge is a PF.

carrottop12 · Post #5 » by **carrottop12** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:28 pm

Okay, then switch out Aldridge with Hawes.

Post #6 » by **loserX** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:31 pm

Yay, we have approximately the 11th best under-25 centre in the league!!

d-will8 · Post #7 » by **d-will8** » Thu Jan 1, 2009 12:24 am

Even so, we have to be pretty happy that we were able to get Kosta where we were drafting. All of those guys, excluding Gasol and Perkins, were lottery picks, mostly high lottery picks, so we definitely got a steal. Kosta's proving that he can play in this league right now and he has great upside.

erudite23 · Post #8 » by **erudite23** » Thu Jan 1, 2009 1:02 am

That is a little eye-opening, I have to admit. It all depends on whether this is an accomplished scout or a n00b who is trying to flaunt his "eye for talent" to make a name for himself.

Still, its not bad to hear, and the way Kosta works his ass off, there is no way he isn't going to be a quality starter at some point in his career, at the very least.

Any drafnik will remember that Kosta was regularly being projected as a top 5 pick when he was a senior in high school, and some scouts even felt he had a great shot at being the #1 overall guy if things went right for him at OSU. Following his unbelievable performance in the U-18 European Championships, he was really starting to be hyped as an elite pro prospect.

Not just that, but I have yet to hear a legitimate explanation for why he fell below 16 on draft day. Not one draft projection I saw had him being available in the mid twenties, and somehow he just kept falling down the board. If he can work on his rebounding and become a 16-18RR kind of guy, he has a legit shot at stardom.

JDubJazz · Post #9 » by **JDubJazz** » Fri Jan 2, 2009 5:06 pm

I think the reason he fell, was the rumor that he was going to go play in Greece. Thankfully he did not, because it looks like the Jazz got a steal.

When I think back to few years ago and the endless parade of stiffs the Jazz shuttled through their Center spot, we are really spoiled having guys like Memo and Koufos there now.

HammerDunk · Post #10 » by **HammerDunk** » Fri Jan 2, 2009 5:59 pm

I've been very happy with Kosta so far, considering that when I first saw his face, I thought he was Ostertag 2.0... I see enormous potential for him considering his work ethic and skills. I'm glad he is being used more as a traditional C instead of another Okur, we have 1, don't need 2. I really hope he works to develop a good inside game and forgets that he ever shot the 3.

carrottop12 · Post #11 » by **carrottop12** » Fri Jan 2, 2009 8:16 pm

I remember on Draft Night when Hibbert was picked in front of him I was so bummed I knew the Jazz were going to "waste a draft pick on another jumpshooting stiff."

Boy am I happy to eat crow about that one.

Considering the massive amounts of dissapointment this year Kosta has been one of the lone truly bright spots. He hustles his ass of, he's smart, and obviously ultra talented.

There must have been some terrible rumors going around about this kid because true seven footers with extreme athleticism, good work ethic and a pretty sound feel for the game should never fall into the mid 20's. If the draft were redone today I say there is no way he falls farther then 10th.

The only guys who have really impressed me this season are Rose, Beasley, Mayo, Bayless, Chalmers, B. Lopez, and Jason Thompson. And I still assume some high potential guys like Westbrook, Gordon and maybe Alexander would be taken in front him him.

But compared to the rest of the big guys in this past draft you tell me where Kosta fits in with...

Kevin Love
Brook Lopez
Jason Thompson
Robin Lopez
Marreese Speights
Roy Hibbert
JaVale McGee
Alexis Ajinca
Ryan Anderson

Then Koufos was picked.

Love has been solid but unspectacular in 22 minutes a game averaging nearly 8/8. However his percentages are terrible and on a bad team he could really be playing better.

Brook Lopez is playing well avering 10/8 in nearly 20 minutes of player with 2 blocks per game and nearly 50% from the field. He looks to have a bright future.

Jason Thompson is averaging 9/7 in 24 minutes, solid contribution on a bad team.

Robin Lopez is averaing 3/2 in 10 minutes a game for the Suns. It's hard to measure his affect on the floor by his stats however in that he is a hustle player/garbage man.

Marreese Speights is avering 7/4 in 14 minutes a game, again pretty solid for so few minutes.

Roy Hibbert is avering 5/3 and a block per game in just over 12 minutes per game. After a dominant pre season I expected a bigger year but the one block per game in that short of time is promising.

JaVale McGee is averaing 5/4 and a block in 14 minutes a game, again solid stats in 14 minutes a game on a bad team.

Alexis Ajinca is averaging just under 3/1 in 7 minutes per game. The guy is a huge project.

Ryan Anderson is averaging 6/4 in 17 minutes a game on poor percentages from the floor, but good from past the three point line.

Koufos is averaging 5/3 in just under 13 minute a game with nearly a block on a mediocre team.

So none of the big men have been truly spectacular yet but from my view I would probably take Koufos third after B. Lopez and Jason Thompson. You could make a case for any of those guys but most of them are putting up their stats on sub .500 teams where they are getting a lot more looks then Kosta.

Jazz got a steal.

erudite23 · Post #12 » by **erudite23** » Fri Jan 2, 2009 11:03 pm

Actually, Bat, while I agree that Kosta has been a steal and am happy to have him, I don't think that he has any more of a case for him than most of the guys you mentioned.

Speights has been awesome in limited PT.

Love has been a straight dominant rebounder, and while he's struggled with his shooting, he is obviously a prodigious talent. No matter what, he will always have a place as a great rebounder with a decent jump shot, but he has the ability to develop into a force as an all around player.

Robin Lopez has been underwhelming to a degree, but his defense and hustle have been as advertised.

Hickson has impressed when he's gotten a chance.

Brook Lopez has been amazing, and is getting better seemingly every game.

Really, Hibbert has been the one guy who hasn't been that great, imo.

This has just been a draft class with a ton of productive bigs who have played really well. I couldn't make that great of a case that Kosta deserves to go any higher than he did in the big man order. Which is unusual, because a guy that shows that kind of promise early on in their rookie season usually can be said to have fallen down the draft board. Weird--and great--year for big men.

Post #13 » by **DelaneyRudd** » Sat Jan 3, 2009 2:53 am

loserX wrote:It's rather a silly question. Biedrins, Horford, Bynum, Bogut, and possibly Hawes all off the top of my head are better than Koufos right now...in addition to Dwight, and the 25-year limit being completely arbitrary.

That said, it's nice to know our guy has some promise

I believe this guy, but GO Koufos!

Better than Biedren, Horford, Hawes. I hope Bogut does awesome no matter what.

Hikari · Post #14 » by **Hikari** » Sat Jan 3, 2009 3:04 am

Batronuj wrote:Aldridge, Oden, Biedrins, Bynum, Bogut, M. Gasol, B. Lopez, Perkins, Horford...

Just to name a few. Sorry guys.

Sorry I mostly agree with you but Oden is in the dumper right now.

BarneyGumble · Post #15 » by **BarneyGumble** » Sat Jan 3, 2009 5:58 am

I must admit...Koufos has impressed me far beyond what I ever expected of him, and so quickly. Kudos to Sloan for playing the young fella, even though maybe the injuries have been the main reason. But Kosta is fearless and tough. He needs to learn when NOT to shoot sometimes and he'll be golden....

Greek · Post #16 » by **Greek** » Sat Jan 3, 2009 7:13 am

JDubJazz wrote:I think the reason he fell, was the rumor that he was going to go play in Greece. Thankfully he did not, because it looks like the Jazz got a steal.

When I think back to few years ago and the endless parade of stiffs the Jazz shuttled through their Center spot, we are really spoiled having guys like Memo and Koufos there now.

I follow Kosta career for about 4 years. For sure the speculation that he would play in Greece was 1 reason but not the only, and for sure not the most important. Yes he has Greek parents and he loves Greece, but he was born and raised in US as an American. They are some more that i will try to explain you. Back in collage he wasn't great rebounder, he wasn't going on FT on good rate, very poor assist numbers and he had lots of arguments with coach D Mata. DaMata was visioned him as the next Oden something that Kosta didn't liked. His idol was Dirk and some extend Okur, so he was trying to emulate there games, playing from the high post. Rumors of being soft, having bad work ethic, and not being very coachable started to surround him. IMO those are the reasons that he fall.

I was sure that Cavs would pick him, given that he is good friend of Lebron. After i saw that he was picked by Utah my feelings where mixed. I said to my self that with coach Sloan can be something special if he works hard or he can be an other talented Greek on the long list that never lived on his potential.
Now i am glad to see that he is doing the right things, (hustling, playing D, and do the little things) but don't fool u r self. Kosta is not the typical defensive force in the middle. His main power is his scoring ability. Next summer will play with Greek NT. A tough team, who plays strong D, and everything is about unselfishness. They are not a team of stars, so i think that it will helps him a lot.

Thats my 2 cents. Sorry for my poor English