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Jazz Notes:
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
The Araujo prospectus
Rafael Araujo's agent, Jim McDowell, e-mailed Monday to say he was coming to
town and was planning to talk with Jazz senior vice president of basketball
operations Kevin O'Connor in the next couple of days about matters involving
the free-agent center.
McDowell wrote that several teams have expressed interest in Araujo and were
watching the Revue but added that there were no "official offers." Then
McDowell did something I found pretty interesting.
He included a copy of the prospectus on Araujo he prepared for every team in
the league prior to the start of free agency July 1. It offers a window into
the process to which fans and reporters are not usually privy.
In Araujo's case, McDowell is writing about a player who logged just 248
minutes in 28 games last season. But McDowell focuses on the 11 games in
which Araujo played more than 10 minutes. His averages in those games: 5.36
points and 4.10 rebounds.
He compares that to backup center Jarron Collins' productivity (2.96 points,
2.87 rebounds) in the 53 games in which he played 10 minutes or more. The
suggestion is that with regular playing time, Araujo could put up the same
numbers (at least) as Collins.
McDowell also cites statistics from 82games.com calculating that the Jazz
gave up 10.1 points fewer per 100 possessions with Araujo on the court than
off. That's the top figure for any Jazz player and, McDowell claims, shows
the difference Araujo makes on defense.
"Araujo clogs up the lane defensively unlike any other Jazz player right now,"
McDowell writes. "He also helps out on defense at least as diligently as any
other player on the Jazz right now. He screens out his opponent in rebounding
situations very aggressively, leading to rebounding opportunities for his
teammates.
"Plus, Araujo is an intimidating physical presence inside. Opposing team
scorers feel less comfortable driving the lane with Araujo in the game,
reducing the number of high percentage lay-ups. We believe these factors
all contribute to the numbers which show him to be a factor on defense."
Additionally, McDowell asks how many players would have done what Araujo did
in never complaining to the media about scarcely playing, never sulking on
the bench and working out so diligently that he sometimes enlisted his wife
and friends to help him.
The agent concludes with upside and downside projections for Araujo. The
downside projection is that he "he remains a solid, hard-working big man who
provides aggressive, focused productivity even in limited action" and is a
valuable and coachable practice player.
The upside projection is that Araujo develops with regular playing time into
a player capable of "earning his way into a significant role, providing
double figures in points and rebounds regularly, all the while packaged in
an aggressive, serious defensive presence."
Earlier, McDowell writes: "Despite having been in the league for 3 years,
Araujo has yet to be defined in the NBA. He was unfairly criticized by media
and fans for two years with Toronto, while never getting a chance to play
regularly to answer the criticisms.
"The work he did last summer transformed him physically, a process that will
continue improving Araujo even more over the next couple years. Given his work
ethic and coach-ability, he is likely to make strides over the next several
years if he can get enough playing time to settle in at this level."
McDowell acknowledges that 248 minutes of playing time is a small sample but
he also has concluded that it is not overly influenced by garbage-time minutes.
The "bulk" of Araujo's minutes did not come in such situations, he writes in
the prospectus.
You can take this for what it's worth. I just thought it was interesting to
read what goes into an agent's sales pitch. McDowell's prospectus ends with
a series of quotes from Carlos Boozer, Jerry Sloan, Larry Miller and others
taken from newspapers and Web sites about Araujo's value as a player and
work ethic.
* * *
Araujo has been bothered by a case of tendinitis in his groin. He called it
a "weird" injury because it feels fine once he gets warmed up. Once he sits
and cools down, his groin tightens and he runs into problems. He's had a
tough go of it so far in the Revue, totaling 10 turnovers in three games.
Jazz assistant coach Tyrone Corbin attributes the turnovers to Araujo
adjusting to the pace of the game. Asked to evaluate Araujo through three
games, Corbin said, "The guy's still playing hard and he's working hard,
so we'll wait till the end to evaluate everybody."
* * *
Paul Millsap used to be the Jazz's energy player off the bench. Then Kyrylo
Fesenko showed up and took that job to a new level. I asked Millsap how he
felt about losing his role - - keeping in mind that he too has gone to a new
level, scoring the Jazz's first 13 points of Monday's game.
"I'm going to do what I got to do anyway," Millsap said. "For young guys,
that's our job, come in and try to make a spark, block a shot, get a dunk or
whatever it is to set the tempo."
* * *
One of the more interesting free agents still out there is Lakers center
Chris Mihm. He missed all of the 2006-07 season after undergoing ankle surgery
but was a regular double-double guy as a full-time starter the two seasons
before that.
Apparently, Mihm has worked out for a lot of teams to try and prove he's
healthy, one of them being the Jazz. The Lakers would like for Mihm to return
but have to be concerned with a payroll that will crest over the luxury-tax
threshold once Derek Fisher signs. The Jazz like Mihm but are cautious about
players with foot problems after Curtis Borchardt.
* * *
You never forget a name like Pooh Jeter and he hurt the Jazz big-time
down the stretch of Monday's game.
--Ross Siler
1:13 AM |
http://blogs.sltrib.com/jazz/2007/07/araujo-prospectus.htm
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