Why did Sloan draft Williams over Paul?

[kd35sneighbor]

Just wondering what you guys think his reasons may be. Because he's a better shooter that would work well with the system? Do you guys think Paul would be worse right now if he was with the Jazz under Sloan?

[QuantumMacgyver]

Just wondering what you guys think his reasons may be. Because he's a better shooter that would work well with the system? Do you guys think Paul would be worse right now if he was with the Jazz under Sloan?

Cuz Deron has staying power. Paul is great but his entire game is based upon his speed. Whereas Deron has far more tools in his arsenal. He is a better shooter, form the anywhere on the floor, with the exception of the free throw line. He is a better floor general in that I believe he has a higher BBIQ than Paul. And he is far stronger. So when Paul sees his game slip due to nagging injuries, Deron has the ability to play through small injuries and still be incredibly effective.

[hoops4life]

I think that both of them would be superstars no matter where they went in the draft.

[mjvile]

Why did Sloan draft Williams over Paul?

Its because of our record of point guards after Stockton era. They were all small like Paul and were having injuries playing Sloan basketball. So we wanted a tough point guard who could make hard screens just like Stockton did. Dwilll has the build for Sloan basketball.

[Ming Kong!]

I'm guessing leading his team to the finals, and he was really clutch in the tournament, almost even beating UNC. He had the obvious size advantage, and I'm sure he showed him more in practice. Regardless I'm happy on the decision.

[JoyDivision]

Like Ming Kong implied I think the organization believed Deron had better leadership. He has the ability to get his teammates involved and maintains an impact even on an off night, he distributes the ball really well. Granted he does have a problem with turnovers but that is something that I think will improve with time; leadership on the other hand is a quality you can't really teach.

[MeestR]

coin toss. straight up.

[rednecksbasketball]

I think the Jazz liked Williams size more than Pauls. The Jazz system requires the PG to set screens, something I'm not sure Paul could do with regularity without getting hurt. I have also thought Williams was a better fit with Boozer than Paul would have been.

But yeah, it's not really a bad choice for the Jazz to have to make and if they took either of them they would have made a good pick. Any team in the NBA would love to be able to chose between those two, except the Atlanta Hawks because they'd just screw it up again.

[HolyToledo]

The Jazz traded up bc they wanted one of the two bc they werent too impressed with the alternatives. Maybe the greatest trade in Jazz history. The Jazz chose size over speed. Both would have fit in great.

[erudite23]

At the time I was going ballistic. All through their rookie seasons, I was yelling "I told you so." But the Jazz knew what they were doing. Deron's game will age much better than Paul's, and there are intangible elements that make you go hmmmm. Deron owned Paul in college, and he has owned him in the pros. People discount that fact, and its understandable because all their battles have been in the regular season and on the 2nd tier of contention as "good teams" rather than with the trophy at stake, but idk how you can say its not a big deal. If you reach your goal and have a team that is championship worthy, and so does the other guy....wouldn't you want the one who owns the other head-to-head? A la Robinson and Hakeem (and D-Rob was statistically superior to the Dream as well, mind)?

I love CP at the time, and if we had taken him I'm sure I would be happy and arguing the other side of it. Paul seems to have had, inarguably, a modest edge over Deron as players through their first 5 years. But as a long term investment, I'm much happier with Deron. Paul could be out of the league by his 32nd birthday. He's gonna have bone-on-bone in his knee in the near future, and once his unbelievable speed and quickness drops off, his game will take a major downturn.

I think at the time the Jazz kind of foresaw this. Deron is a little more cerebral and more suited to run a structured system (not to say that Paul couldn't do it) than CP. Deron has the size advantage, and he seemed to have that "it" factor in big game situations during Illinois' run to the championship game. Paul on the other hand, had whispers swirling about attitude concerns, personal issues and the like. Nothing big, but the type of small stuff that can derail a team under adverse circumstances. I think it was neck and neck, and the Jazz just said "hey, we're a little more comfortable with this guy." At the time, again, I was frantic about it. I wasn't impressed with Deron as a college player at all. But, again, this is why those guys get the big $$$$ and I'm on RealGM. Haha.

[carrottop12]

Deron's size and strength is better for the Jazz system.

Deron is also more of a competitor while Paul is more of a dick puncher.

[Ziploc]

+1

[Seralin]

Playing style is definitely one thing but I am wondering if there was any character related issue or concern that would make Sloan to prefer Deron over Paul.

[dr0welf]

If I remember correctly their were votes for both with in the organization before the draft. Sloan wanted Deron mainly due to size for the reasons noted previously in this thread. CP3 is a smart player and handles the ball well, but again would his body hold up to the amount of Center picks we demand of our PG in this system?

Deron's turnover to assist ratio is the only downfall to his game. A lot of the turnovers happen either by bad positioning by the PF down low where the pass gets stolen. Or sometimes he gets excited and tries threading the needle which I'm fine with him taking chances.

[HammerDunk]

Cuz DWill >>> CP3. Especially on the Jazz. Sloan doesn't like whiny little dbags either, big plus there. Deron is the most straight forward, tell it like it is guy in the league, and that is very nice to have in this day and age. He also kicks major arse on the court in crunch time.

[StocktonShorts]

But as a long term investment, I'm much happier with Deron. Paul could be out of the league by his 32nd birthday.

And Paul could be gone from the Hornets much sooner than that. Not that DWill couldn't also leave the Jazz, but I get much less of a prima donna, Chrissy Bosh vibe from Deron than I do from Paul.

[nyjazz]

Size and strength, also because Deron can play SG and is a better defender (no, not looking at steals as the sole determination of defensive ability).

CP3 is a fun guy to watch but he is much less effective than Deron.

[The59Sound]

Size and strength, also because Deron can play SG and is a better defender (no, not looking at steals as the sole determination of defensive ability).

CP3 is a fun guy to watch but he is much less effective than Deron.

I don't think "much less" is fair, especially considering how much more efficient Paul is.

[febah07]

both are awesome....as mentioned, i think the decision was made because of dwills size and strength.

[Reckless]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuPsSnkvzm0
skip ahead to about the 6:30 mark