Jazz Draft Choice at #20

polskikrol3 · Post #1 » by **polskikrol3** » Wed May 20, 2009 8:43 pm

I am curious to find out what other forum writers and readers think the Jazz should do with the draft? On the wings I for one am enamored with Terrance Williams of Lousville. He is a freak of an athlete and can do a little bit of everything well. His worst thing, shooting, I realize is exactly what the Jazz need on the wing but his shot has improved each year and I assume only will. His defense is the plus the Jazz need I think. He is a potential Brewer replacement if he gets too expensive to re-sign in 2 years. Austin Daye form the Zags is also intriguing. He is very unpolished but has huge upside. He has great perimeter skills for a big and is long on defense (although a poor defender). But he is Kirilenko's replacement when FINALLY that terrible contract comes of the books. He would have two years to grow and develop and get stronger.
Other directions to go are the back-up point to Deron. How about one quality back-up instead of two average or below average ones. Seems cheaper too. And this is a very deep PG draft. Possibilities include Nick Calathes (shooter), Patty Mills (speed, ball-handling), or Darren Collison (speed, defense, smarts). I think Collison is the best choice here. He is big and fast and a better shooter than most think.
Lastly is a big. If the Jazz go this direction I think it signals the end of either Millsap or Boozer. Im guessing the Jazz would really like James Johnson of Wake but he will most likely be gone. Same with Blair who appears to be a Millsap clone. Tyler Hansbrough is the perfect fit for the Jazz (this doesn't mean its the smart choice). White and plays hard.
I think though it should come down to the best one left out of Terrance Williams, Darren Collison, and Austin Daye.

BiggMann · Post #2 » by **BiggMann** » Thu May 21, 2009 3:19 am

I agree that Collison is the safest choice. Lock down defender, lightning quick, and able to score if needed. Smart player too, sloan would love him.

carrottop12 · Post #3 » by **carrottop12** » Thu May 21, 2009 3:32 am

There should be quite a few players better then Collison still available at 20. I like that he's fast, and his defense is nice, but I want more of a natural scorer I think coming off the bench.

BiggMann · Post #4 » by **BiggMann** » Thu May 21, 2009 7:59 am

Yeah but not many that will fill a need and be able to step in and play right away. I think Collison a 4 yr senior is more prepared to come in and contribute now. Sure his ceiling may not be that high, but he gives us a reason to NOT resign Knight and let Collison and Price fight it out for back up minutes.

Some Mocks i've seen have us taking Blair from Pitt, and sure he'd be a nice banger to come off the bench but he's an short PF and we seem to have a good one of those already. I think we need to be safe and make this pick work for us.

GopherIt! · Post #5 » by **GopherIt!** » Thu May 21, 2009 1:45 pm

We are doing a mock draft in the Draft Forum. It is currently Utah's pick at #20. If someone wants to come by and make your teams pick we would appreciate your input. Thanks! Goph

JDubJazz · Post #6 » by **JDubJazz** » Thu May 21, 2009 3:16 pm

Guys I think you could see the Jazz draft: Ty Lawson, Darren Collison, Nick Calathes and Tyler Hansbrough. There is going to be a premium this year on guys who are ready to play now, since teams (including the Jazz) are looking to fill roster spots as cheaply as possible. You could see Juniors and Seniors have a much better draft than has been the norm over the course of the last 5 years.

GopherIt! · Post #7 » by **GopherIt!** » Thu May 21, 2009 5:43 pm

Hey J dub, I changed the pick to Ellington for you. I apologize, I somehow missed your post.

Yeah, I'm not sure how/why Casspi was thought to be a good pick there. He's projected to be going in the late 30's. If you wanted him in the second round you guys could probably make a move to get him.

JDubJazz · Post #8 » by **JDubJazz** » Thu May 21, 2009 6:16 pm

GopherIt! wrote:Hey J dub, I changed the pick to Ellington for you. I apologize, I somehow missed your post.

Yeah, I'm not sure how/why Casspi was thought to be a good pick there. He's projected to be going in the late 30's. If you wanted him in the second round you guys could probably make a move to get him.

cool. Thanks.

Reckless · Post #9 » by **Reckless** » Thu May 21, 2009 8:08 pm

Collison is good at some things, but not great. His senior season was a disappointment

I wouldn't put him in my top 20, top 30 maybe

Gotta take the best player available, not just fill a need

babyjax13 · Post #10 » by **babyjax13** » Thu May 21, 2009 11:21 pm

I really like the way Nick Calathas plays. He reminds me a bit of Kirk Hinrich--but a better passer. He would be the ideal backup point guard, he shoots well and has a great command on the offensive end. He is a bit slow, but put him next to Brewer or Price and he is big enough to guard the other team's shooting guard.

I really don't want Collison at all--I don't know why his game does not appeal to me, but I just see nothing unique in him. If all the big point guard prospects are off the board (Maynor, Evans, Jennings, Flynn, Mills, etc.) then Calathas and Sergio Llull have to be looked at hard--actually, even if a couple of those guys are on the board they do.

Outside of the point guards Hansbrough, Lawal, Blaire and Daye I think are the best prospects we can pick up. In the second round I really like Dante Cunningham, and I would also love to see the Jazz draft Luke Neville even if it is just a PR move. I think he can easily become and Aaron Gray type player.

I don't see why the Jazz would draft Ellington, he would just be another player in our long line of shooting guards. He does not have any special skills, and won't set himself apart from the rest of the players around him. The best case scenario I see for him is becoming a JJ Reddick type player.

If Terrance Williams drops to us I would be ecstatic, but I don't think he will drop past Indiana (13).

Jeff Pendergraph is another guy who has a good chance to be a steal. He is a smart player, and has all of the physical skills needed to become a good NBA player--he reminds me a bit of Brandon Bass.

outerspacefella · Post #11 » by **outerspacefella** » Fri May 22, 2009 6:09 am

babyjax13 wrote:....I really don't want Collison at all--I don't know why his game does not appeal to me, but I just see nothing unique in him. If all the big point guard prospects are off the board (Maynor, Evans, Jennings, Flynn, Mills, etc.) then Calathas and Sergio Llull have to be looked at hard--actually, even if a couple of those guys are on the board they do. .....

Agreed on Collison. Agreed on Calathes too, but if Teague, Holiday or Curry are there I'd jump on one of them. I'm not that sold on many other players that probably could be there coming Jazz clock... except may be Young, Budinger, LLull...
I wouldn't go with Terrence WIlliams either...

JDubJazz · Post #12 » by **JDubJazz** » Fri May 22, 2009 4:26 pm

babyjax13 wrote:I don't see why the Jazz would draft Ellington, he would just be another player in our long line of shooting guards. He does not have any special skills, and won't set himself apart from the rest of the players around him. The best case scenario I see for him is becoming a JJ Reddick type player.

the reason that we would draft Ellington is that we think Korver is leaving and we need a shooting guard who can actually shoot. He was the man for UNC's championship team an we need winners. That being said, I don't think he will be there when the Jazz draft.

I do really like Calathes, though and think he could be an ideal backup PG.

babyjax13 · Post #13 » by **babyjax13** » Sun May 24, 2009 4:18 pm

I think that if we want a shooter Jermaine Taylor or Danny Green would both be better choices.

Racer X · Post #14 » by **Racer X** » Mon May 25, 2009 2:18 am

Here are the guys that intrigue me for the Jazz at 20: which are realistically in their range:

DeJuan Blair http://www.nbadraft.net/players/dejuan-blair
I think that he could be a sort of Big Baby, Kendrick Perkins type of player which the Jazz usually are able to get a lot of mileage out of.

Gani Lawal http://www.nbadraft.net/players/gani-lawal
This guy might be the guy that I am the most intrigued by. He has nice size, length. Big, big time athlete. We raelly have never had anyone like that in our front court. Has upside.

Omri Casspi http://www.nbadraft.net/players/omri-casspi
Scouts have loved this guy forever it seems like. Seems like a Jazz type of player. If we trade Andrei he could be our EuroForward of the Future.

Jrue Holiday http://www.nbadraft.net/players/jrue-holiday
This guy obviously has a lot of talent. Apparently his coach at UCLA was trying to hide him by not playing him hoping to keep him from the draft. I have seen him in the Top 5 in some Mocks and in the 20s at others. I think he will end up rising out of our zone.

Tyler "Psycho T" Hansborough http://www.nbadraft.net/players/tyler-hansbrough
I go back and forth with Psycho T. Sometimes I think his toughness and hustle would make him a Sloan favorite who actually would be able to give us a Anderson Varaejo type presence. Other times I just see Curtis Borchardt (when healthy) who just doesnt have enough for the NBA.

Patty Mills http://www.nbadraft.net/players/patrick-mills
I have loved this guy since watching him versus the Redeem Team this summer. He was fearless going up against the so-called best PG in the league Chris Paul, not to mention Jason Kidd, Deron, and Kobe Bryant. I just get a toughness from this guy which makes me think he could be a Jannergo Pargo type of player.

Austin Daye http://www.nbadraft.net/players/austin-daye
I watched Gonzaga a lot this year. This guy is Tayshaun Prince. I love him. He is probably going to need a year to add a little bit of muscle, but I think he could be a Tayshaun Prince type, or even a Trevor Ariza type.

Josh Heytvelt http://www.nbadraft.net/players/josh-heytvelt
I have been really impressed with Heytvelt. He reminds me a lot of Brad Miller. He is tough, has a little bit of a midrange game. He dominated Psyco T in their early year matchup. Would probably be a reach at 20, but maybe we could swing a deal to get an earlier 2nd rounder.

I really, really, really love Gani Lawal. That would be my hope at this point. I have a feeling that in workouts he is going to be a definite board riser. I have a feeling the Jazz will not have a shot at him. That only guy that I would really just be bummed out by would be BJ Mullens. I have watched him multiple times and everytime I just thought he looked incredibly awful.

babyjax13 · Post #15 » by **babyjax13** » Mon May 25, 2009 4:35 am

I think Heytvelt would likely be available where we pick in the second round. He seems like a bit of a head-case though so I am not sure the Jazz would draft him. Lawal would be a good pickup, and I would not be against the Jazz drafting him at all, but I am thinking that either Jeff Teague or Eric Maynor will be there when we pick at 20, I'd rather have one of them and draft Alade Aminu, Luke Neville or Dante Cunningham in the second round.

TaylorJ · Post #16 » by **TaylorJ** » Mon May 25, 2009 6:28 pm

Dude- if the Jazz can get Teague at 20 that would be a huge steal. I live in Chapel Hill and the guy definitely has some consistency issues but he has as much talent as anybody in the draft and I would love to see him playing for the Jazz. I usually hate comparisons between players but the guy's game reminds me a lot of D-Wade. My guess is that he is gone before we pick but if not I think it's well worth the gamble.

carrottop12 · Post #17 » by **carrottop12** » Mon May 25, 2009 7:05 pm

Teague is one of those guys that can come off your bench and be a big time scorer and wreak havoc on the opposing teams guards. Good change of pace guy who can carry an offensive load. I wouldn't be opposed to having him around either.

In draftexpress's latest draft they do have Teague at 20, and Maynor at 19. I am very excited for the draft.

outerspacefella · Post #18 » by **outerspacefella** » Fri May 29, 2009 6:13 am

It would be joyous if we can draft Teague.

Teams looking for point guards will have a nice pool to try with the draft featuring Rubio, Jennings, Flynn, Lawson, Curry, Maynor, Collison, Holiday, Teague, Mills, all of them projected as sure or highly probable first rounders.

Right now, unless something unexpected happens, I'm sold on drafting Holiday, Teague; if they're not there I'd go for Budinger, and if he's not there then I'd take Maynor.

I wouldn't take Flynn, Jennings, Lawson if any of them slip, nor Collison, Mills; I feel they're not the assertive kind of guard we need to backup and play alongside Williams.

Soul Patch · Post #19 » by **Soul Patch** » Fri May 29, 2009 6:21 am

Didn't you hear we're trading Brewer for the #10 so we can get Budinger?

Reckless · Post #20 » by **Reckless** » Fri May 29, 2009 6:44 am

Jeff Teague??

Last memory of Teague was watching his team get embarrassed in the first round of the NCAA's. Teague crumbled under the pressure with 7 turnovers and only 10 points against Cleveland State. He's one of the guys I was shocked to see declare for the draft, it would have greatly benefited him to stay at least another year at Wake Forest, he ended his college career on such a sour note. If we are going to draft a PG should be looking at a guy like Ty Lawson.