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I apologize for the fact that the Jazz are no longer playing, but there is one bright side to the "unofficial" start of the offseason. It's time for the annual Pre-Draft Summit, led by myself (Andrew Perna). The pieces will be turned into articles, and will be part of a three-pronged attack of draft coverage on RealGM.

Thanks in advance for the answers, and please remember to try keeping the answers as tight and concise as possible.


1. What could the team have done different to advance further in the postseason?

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 20th pick?


Thanks for taking the time, and contributing answers. We appreciate that you all help make RealGM what it is today!

1. What could the team have done different to advance further in the postseason?

Better bench play, more energy from role players.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?

Point guard play, namely Deron Williams.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?

Paul Millsap was easily the bright point of the season, had a very solid stretch of games including nearly 20 consecutive double doubles while Boozer was hurt.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?

Brevin Knight. Was supposed to be the solid veteran presence off the bench that new how to run a team predicated around strong team play, but provided very little all season.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?

Strong confidence that they will ensure a good product next year on the court, however with so many free agents it could be out of their hands whether or not it is a great team.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?

Honestly Best Player available. With questions at every position including back up PG, a shooter to replace Korver off the bench, a hard nosed perimeter defender, and open spots at the back up PF and C the Jazz are unlikely looking to fill just one specific position.

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 20th pick?

Eric Maynor, Sam Young, Patty Mills, Jeff Teague, DeJuan Blair, BJ Mullens.

PacerPerspective wrote:1. What could the team have done different to advance further in the postseason?

There is no quick answer to this. The Lakers are a superior team and a terrible matchup for the Jazz. I'm not sure the Jazz could have won that series without a minor miracle.

PacerPerspective wrote:2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?

Depth. For the most part, Deron Williams' play. Team passing (1st in the NBA in team APG).

PacerPerspective wrote:3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?

Our bench. Let us down a bit late in the season, but got us through some disastrous injury stretches to start things off.

PacerPerspective wrote:4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?

Boozer performed below expectations for several stretches.

PacerPerspective wrote:5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?

Not very. Will be interesting to see if the team's leadership/philosophy changes after the sad passing of Larry Miller.

PacerPerspective wrote:6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?

Size, since Boozer and Millsap's situations are still unclear. Backup PG.

PacerPerspective wrote:7. Who would you like your team to select with the 20th pick?

Not sure. Don't know much about the players in that range. Will defer to those more knowledgeable than I.

1. What could the team have done different to advance further in the postseason?

One thing that could have been done was to give Ronnie Price and Kosta Koufos the playing time they deserved. Jerry Sloan insists that he rewards a strong work ethic, yet Koufos was found riding the pine even after his 18 pt 10 reb game vs. Dallas and many other solid performances. With continued development he could have at least been helpful against the taller, more athletic Lakers. And in no way did Brevin Knight merit a place ahead of Price with his mediocre play, as Price showed us in the 4th quarter of game 5.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?

Deron Williams, and the ability of players to step up (at least at first) in his absence.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?

I thought Koufos was doing great when he was getting playing time, and of course Millsap.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?

Kirilenko. He started off the season matching his '04 All Star numbers, then gradually lost it as he lost weight. He could be our Lamar Odom...and more...if he cared consistently. I also expected more out of CJ Miles.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?

50% confidence 50% doubt. It's going to be tough to work something out, but I'm encouraged by the fact that Greg Miller understands our weaknesses.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?

A solid back-up PG, preferably who can shoot.

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 20th pick?

Jeff Teague

1. What could the team have done different to advance further in the postseason?

Heath: The Jazz had every one of their rotation players miss games this season, and it was the first season in franchise history where not one player played in all 82 games.

Chemistry: With all the injuries and player roles being shifted around through the season it was hard to know where everyone fit in and what their role was going into the playoffs.

Avoid the Lakers: Had the Jazz stayed healthy and had the same chemistry they had in 07/08 they more than likely would have avoided the 8th seed and an eventual defeat by the Lakers.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?

Bench contributions: When Boozer went down with his injury Paul Millsap filled in admirably averaging 16 and 10 as a starter and leading the league in consecutive double doubles with 19. Before AK47 got hurt he was in the running for 6th man of the year and even Fesenko and Koufus showed signs.

Coaching: Sloan knows how to get the most out of his players even when key guys are out with injury. You have to give the guy credit for reaching the playoffs with all the injuries and a one time line up of Knight, Brewer, Harpring, Koufus, and Fesenko.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?

Millsap: He'll get his payday for the way he filled in as a starter this year. Hustle plays, rebounding, heart. The guy left it all on the court while playing for most of the season on two bad knees. Only knock against him is his size and how he wore down towards the end of the season.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?

Brevin Knight: The Jazz gained nothing by trading Jason Hart for Knight and putting him ahead of Price in the rotation. Knight can't shoot, he struggled going down the stretch and didn't show Jazz fans enough to replace Price.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?

Kevin O' Conner seems to have a good idea of where this team needs to go. With new owner Greg Miller, son of late Larry H. Miller saying he's willing to pay the luxury tax to keep the core of the Jazz together; I trust they will make smart decisions this offseason.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?

Drafting a big man and a back up point guard. Maybe make a draft day trade for a SG who can actually shoot. A couple that come to mind are Ben Gordon or Ray Allen.


7. Who would you like your team to select with the 20th pick?

Granted they fall that far I would take Stephen Curry, Ty Lawson, Jeff Teague or Blake Griffin .

1. What could the team have done different to advance further in the postseason?
-Play more physical defense, blocked shots, run the offense better, cut down on turnovers, consistent bench play, get to the FT line more.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
-Deron Williams, Depth, Sharing the ball

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
-Paul Millsap, Ronnie Brewer, Kosta Koufos, Matt Harpring

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
-Brevin Knight, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Price-(due to lack of playing time for Price)

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
-Not very. I am afraid the Jazz front office is lacking the guts to pull off a big time trade or make any drastic team changing moves. I am deathly afraid of them drafting BJ Mullens but they have a good track record in recent drafts so I will trust them on draft day. KOC is brilliant so I hope dearly he can find a way to turn this team around.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
-Defense, 3 point shooting, possible PF replacement, role players, backup point guard.


7. Who would you like your team to select with the 20th pick?
-Sam Young, Darren Collison, Jeff Teague, Ty Lawson, Terrence Williams, Marcus Thornton, Jrue Holiday (Guys that should be available near the 20th pick)

1. What could the team have done different to advance further in the postseason?
Win late in the season so we didn't have to play the Lakers and our team had some confidence going into the post season. We had the talent to beat LA but our players were too passive (other than Deron, Harpring and Boozer--we needed out bench to step up).

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
Offense from the front-court. Boozer and Memo are a pretty deadly combo, and then we have two excellent players coming off the bench (Koufos and Millsap).

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
Statistically CJ Miles was certainly a surprise, but his play on the court did not impress me at all.

I think I am going to have to say that Harpring and Millsap were the 'surprises'. Millsap made a huge jump having 19 double-doubles in a row as a starter despite being pretty banged up. He averaged 16 and 10 as a starter while Boozer was out. Harpring was the motor of this team and managed to help us win 4 or 5 games we should not have just by coming in and taking back our momentum.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
Brevin Knight is the popular pick, but CJ Miles was just so terrible for our system that I don't see why we matched his offer from Oklahoma City. He has tons of potential, shoots well, and is an incredible athlete but he needs to have the ball in his hands to be effective. Honestly, he just is not good enough to demand the ball over options like Deron, Boozer, Okur, Millsap, and even Ronnie Brewer if he is in the interior. Kirilenko should have gotten more of Miles' time.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
They are conservative but normally make decisions in the best interest of the team. I would like to see them make a run at a 'risky' (high-upside) draft pick in the first round just to shake things up and see if we can get a difference maker. We already have enough good young guys that we know will be rotation players, but someone with the potential to be an elite scorer--or even Jason Terry type player would be a welcome addition to this team.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
Backup point guard is a need, but I think that can be addressed with a minimum salary player or just by retaining Ronnie Price. Other than that depth is the main thing.

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 20th pick?
Jeff Teague, Marcus Thornton, BJ Mullens and Eric Maynor are the guys I like for the Jazz in the draft--not because I think they are sure things but because they offer the biggest upside out of the players I think will be there at 20. In the second round I think Dante Cunningham, Tony Douglas and Luke Neville are the guys the Jazz will be looking at.

Bat, I read your defense of BJ Mullens in another thread and I understand your points, but I have to step in. I watched Ohio State atleast twice this season. Both times I came away thinking he was absolutely terrible and I had no idea why some super-early mocks had him in the Top 5 for this year. I also recently listened to an interview with Jonathan Giovony and he said that BJ Mullens has a long standing reputation of not even liking basketball.

1. What could the team have done different to advance further in the postseason?
JAZZ SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN THE EIGHT SEED; LOST GAMES TO LOTTERY TEAMS DOOMED THEM.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
BALL MOVEMENT, OFFENSIVE EXECUTION.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
MILLSAP.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
KNIGHT, MILES.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
PRETTY MUCH CONFIDENT. THEY'LL TAKE CARE OF THE TEAM AND THEY WON'T COMPROMISE THE FRANCHISE.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
TALENTED COMBO GUARD TO BACKUP WILLIAMS AND TO PLAY THE OFF GUARD; JAZZ CAN'T AFFORD TO PLAY 8-12 MINUTES WITHOUT EFFECTIVE PG PLAY OR TO LEAVE ALL THE BURDEN ONLY IN DERON'S HANDS.

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 20th pick?
HOLIDAY, TEAGUE, CALATHES, BUDINGER... JAZZ NEED ASSERTIVE/SCORER GUARDS/WINGS.

1. What could the team have done different to advance further in the postseason?
Not blow two cupcake home games @ the end of the year to get the Lakers or just have a healthy season.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
Offensive execution as usual and their bench, since they had to step in with all the injuries this year.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
Millsap had a huge year while Boozer was out and Brewer somewhat stepped up on the defensive end becoming a top notch stopper. I would like to throw in CJ Miles for finally getting consistent minutes.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
Kirilenko and Harpring were ineffective compared to their standards.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
Kevin O'Connor and the gang are heading into a new ERA possibly with so many key free agents and the passing of reigns of ownership.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
Length, toughness, and defense

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 20th pick?
Terrence Williams, Danny Green, Eric Maynor, Patty Mills, Jeff Pendergraph, Josh Heytvelt

1. What could the team have done different to advance further in the postseason?
Gone to Ronnie Price earlier.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
Deron when healthy.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
Nobody surprised me.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
Knight. I thought he'd be much better.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
Wary.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
BPA. More athletes. Some shotblocking a plus.

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 20th pick?
A young Hakeem.

1. Won more games down the stretch and not play LA in 1st round of playoffs.

2. D Will, Bench play until Boozer returned from injury. (no stat to support)

3. Millsap & R Brewer (If he only had a consistent jump shot).

4. CJ (needs one more year of playing time), Knight & AK (they both had their moments).

5. When the front office finds out what Boozer, Okur & Korver are going to do, I'm fairly (not 100%) confident they will make the best moves possible. Management is committed to putting a winning (championship ?) team on the court. One or two (Boozer, Okur, Korver) will have to go.

6. Best athlete available. Another SG?, SF or C (better than Koufos or Fez - this draft seems to have only one possibility, Thabeet, we would have to move up to get him).

7. Trade up to get Griffin or Thabeet or trade pick for an established player. If we keep pick go with:
Chase Budinger, Jeff Teague, Jtrue Holiday, DeJuan Blair, Austin Daye.

1. What could the team have done different to advance further in the postseason?

Lakers were a hard draw for the jazz, but it was obvious that our flaw, was and still is, defense.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?

Deron Williams

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?

Tempted to say millsap, but then realized he was "surprisingly effective" for around 25 games. I would go with Brewer, every year he seems to get a little bit better and has become a nice starter

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?

I have always been a brevin knight fan, the guy was always underrated and efficient for the teams he played for. Have no idea why he looked so horrible for the jazz.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?

Fairly confident, we shall see.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?

A ready to contribute defensive big man (which can be found everywhere in the draft )

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 20th pick?

No idea

1. What could the team have done different to advance further in the postseason?
2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
7. Who would you like your team to select with the 20th pick?

1. They should have made a midseason trade to bring in some perimeter scoring. Watching the lakers ignore Ronnie Brewer and Andrei Kirilenko so they could clog the paint was just painful.

2. Deron Williams and bench scoring.

3. Offensively: Millsap Defensively: Korver

4. Boozer was horrible after coming back from an injury that took far to long to heal (again). CJ Miles made ZERO progress as a starter. Knight was an abomination at backup PG, but then this is the same team that has had Jason Hart and Milt Palacio and Keith McLeod in recent memory, so I can't say it was unexpected.

5. Extremely skeptical. The management keeps talking about how they want to bring everyone back and how they are willing to go over the luxury tax to do so. WHY would we want to bring back all of the main pieces of a sub 50-win team?!? The Jazz front offense conservatism will prevent them from shaking things up, when this team really needs some fresh faces.

6. Best. Player. Available.

7. Well, assuming Blake Griffin is gone (a safe assumption, I'll wager) I'd like to see the add some perimeter scoring. Guys like Ellington and Henderson come to mind, though I doubt they will be ther. I could see them taking a PG like Teague or Lawson or Collison. Hansbrough wouldn't surprise me either.