Jonas Valanciunas

[Litany]

Why do I get the feeling the Jazz are going to get a guy at #3 they aren't talking about and nobody has them taking.

If they take Jonas at #3 that leaves #12 wide open.

It could be any of Burks, Hamilton, Jimmer, Singleton or even a bigger reach like Honeycutt.

Historically Jazz have gone a different direction than anyone else thinks, so this is possible.

I hope we get Knight, but if we go big, I think I would rather have Jonas than Kanter.

I'm probably on an island wanting Jonas over Kanter, but I guess we'll see.

Regardless, I think we will be able to add 2 good players this year and the next week of paralysis by analysis will be interesting.

[Xsy]

I don't think Utah wants a project at #3.

I would be so sad.

[JDubJazz]

I have yet to see Jonas Valenciunas show ANY NBA skill. Playing hard isn't enough, and he's just too raw to take at #3.

[carrottop12]

I could see it. I've warmed to him some, not my favorite player, but I see the potential there.

[Toothless]

I like Jonas. Might be a really solid center on both offensive and defensive ends. . . But he is at least two years away from being ready to contribute in the NBA and his contract buyout is not even worked out yet. If the last part worked out and the Jazz thought he was a future all star, then I could see them taking him. But I think for a #3 pick the Jazz would want a more immediate return.

[carrottop12]

The lock out is a plus for him, the buy out is an obvious minus. It's hard to sell your fan base on a guy who most of them have ever seen, and may not come over due to a buy out. If you end up with a Ricky Rubio type situation where it takes a few years for them to come over, a gm could lose his job before he ever sees his top draft pick.

[Jazzfan12]

I don't think Utah wants a project at #3.

I would be so sad.

Unless the Jazz take Vesely at 3, they're probably taking a huge project at 3 no matter what. Knight and Kanter are no more ready to play than Valanciunas.

[erudite23]

Both Knight and Kanter are more ready to play, but I don't think JV is as far away as some say he is. I think he is about as ready as Favors was this year. So I think he could come over and give a team 15-20 decent minutes as a 3rd or 4th big. I don't by any means think that he would be nailed to the bench if he came over. I think Knight and Kanter could both play close to 30 mpg in their rookie seasons.

[Getjazz]

Knight and Kanter are both going to be great NBA players. Valanciunas will be good but may take 2-4 yrs. Kanter is stronger and quicker so will be an instant player. Knight is super fast and that always helps speed things up. My dream case would be for the Jazz to somehow get them both in a trade with Sac or Toronto.

[carrottop12]

So valanciunas buy out isn't going to allow him to play in the NBA next year according to the twitter world.

Really changes the opportunities of the twelve pick.

[Xanthis]

I think Jonas will be the guy that slides and could be there at 12. Jazz may still pass on him there if they go Kanter at 3. Now if they think he will slide maybe they take Knight and play with the chips of Jefferson, Millsap, and Harris next year.

[carrottop12]

Thinking about it, this is potentially huge for the jazz.

Looking at dx, they have Val going 4 to the cavs, obviously that won't happen. If the cavs assumed Val would be there because they thought the jazz were taking either knight or kanter, they now have to rethink their strategy.

Obviously they want a big man and a guard in the draft, and with Val out, if they think the jazz are going to take kanter, the next best big could be a significant drop off compared to either kanter or valanciunas. That definitely forces them to look at Williams at 1 instead of Irving, meaning Irving could very realistically be there at 3, or that the jazz wil do their damnedest to get up to 2.

Apparently the jazz are already in serious discussions to get up to 2, and if Irving is there the jazz need to do whatever they can to get there, he's the real deal.

Valanciunas just made this draft extremely, extremely interesting for the jazz.

[reapaman]

According to WT, the cavs have settled on Irving for #1 pick and are currently shopping #4 to everyone especially since their not having much luck getting #2 from Wolves for Williams. I seriously think whoever gets that #2 pick even if the wolves keep it is going Williams. The Wolves may not even be interested in Kanter so trading picks with the Jazz may not be what they want.

This makes things interesting because the cavs are probably not sold on Kanter or anyone else at #4 for that matter especially since Jonas is most likely not coming over next year. Theyll likely trade down but if the cavs of all team aren't willing to take Kanter at #4, who will. Plus unless washington is trading Mcgee, their probably not that high enough on Kanter to give us to much. Lot of people are assuming that teams like Kanter but they might be like me and don't wanna take the chance on him.

To many questions, who knows.

[carrottop12]

Derrick Williams had a meeting with Dan Gilbert today, I don't trust that Irving is their for sure pick.

[reapaman]

Derrick Williams had a meeting with Dan Gilbert today, I don't trust that Irving is their for sure pick.

Because the cavs are still trying to get both of them. They haven't gave up. They were trying to find the best ways to get em both but if it came down to it, their going Irving. WT said they were thinking of going williams and hope both the wolves and Jazz pass on Irving, and I guess common sense went into their head knowing that the Jazz won't pass on him and Kahn is picking #2 so he could pick anyone.

Cleveland is determined for that #2 pick tho, so were in for a bidding war if we want it.

[carrottop12]

The jazz have so many more pieces that the cavs do to trade it probably wouldn't be too difficult to outbid them. Wonder if the jazz have interest in the 4 pick, get both knight and kanter.

[DelaneyRudd]

He's not going to sign for next year.

[retiredcoach]

Looks like another wasted Euroleague pick.

It they ain't coming now, don't ever draft them higher than the 2nd round.

[StocktonShorts]

Looks like another wasted Euroleague pick.

It they ain't coming now, don't ever draft them higher than the 2nd round.

I guarantee you if they did the 1999 draft over again Ginobili would go in the lottery, even if the team knew they wouldn't see him for 2-3 years.

Speaking of the 1999 draft, I seem to recall a young Russian player taken in the first round that year. When he eventually came to the NBA he did quite well. He's had a far superior career to the other two NCAA players his NBA team picked in the first round (and who "contributed" right away).

Finally, back to Valanciunas, I think him staying it Europe for one year (and not more) could be a VERY GOOD THING for the Jazz. That's essentially a free year of player development, of five-on-five basketball, during a time when the NBA may not even be in session. It means the Jazz should end up with a BETTER PLAYER for the life of his rookie contract.

[carrottop12]

Looks like another wasted Euroleague pick.

It they ain't coming now, don't ever draft them higher than the 2nd round.

Literally the least sound advice I've ever heard. Absolutely preposterous.