Draft Prospects: Utah Jazz

[RonnieBrewer (Reverse Layup)]

Draft Prospects: Utah Jazz
By  Travis Heath
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Jun 6, 2007, 09:00      

The Utah Jazz just completed one of the more remarkable runs in team history
with a young core of players paving the way to a Western Conference Finals
appearance. Little more than a week removed from such an accomplishment, the
Jazz are hard at work preparing for the NBA Draft later this month.

Utah owns the 25th overall pick in the first round and the 55th overall pick
in the second round. On the surface, it might look like these picks are the
kind of picks that won't produce any big time contributors... at least not
for awhile. However, Utah has a long history of drafting contributors with
what many people viewed as nothing more than throwaway picks

For example, the Jazz drafted Paul Millsap with the 47th overall pick last
season. Most people really didn't know much about Millsap when he was drafted,
and just one year later, he's widely regarded as one of the most promising
prospects in the pivot in the entire Association. Andrei Kirilenko was also
drafted late in the first round with the 24th overall pick in 1999. And don't
forget Mo Williams, who the Jazz drafted with the 48th overall pick in 2003
and may end up being the most coveted point guard on the open market this
summer. Point is, just because the Jazz don't have a lottery pick doesn't
mean you shouldn't pay attention to who they draft.

There's no question the Jazz are still looking to address the shooting guard
position. Whether or not they do that in this year's draft remains to be seen.
The team already has a young player in Ronnie Brewer who showed promise this
season, but ultimately, don't be surprised to see Utah address their shooting
guard need by signing a veteran free agent. Also, don't forget that swingman
C.J. Miles, point guard Dee Brown and center Rafael Araujo are all free agents
this summer.

While it may sound cliche, expect the Jazz to draft the best player available
regardless of position. Remember, though, for the Jazz "best" doesn't always
mean most talented. Instead, best means the guy who has the greatest chance to
flourish in Jerry Sloan's system. Don't forget that just two summers ago Utah
took Deron Williams with the #3 pick over some cat named Chris Paul.
The organization took a lot of heat for it, too. That heat has, shall we say,
died down substantially after Deron Williams played as well as any point guard
in the NBA during the 2007 playoffs. Williams is a classic example of the Jazz
drafting a guy who best fits their system over a guy who has been deemed by
consensus to be more talented like Paul.

With the aforementioned factors in mind, here's a look at who the Jazz will
take a long look at with both of their picks.

Pick #25

And the Utah Jazz Select... Jared Dudley of Boston College - While many
pundits will throw around names of shooting guards the Jazz should select
with this pick, there was one player who had Utah Jazz written all over him
at the NBA's Pre-Draft camp in Orlando. Jared Dudley featured the vast array
of skills the Jazz organization has valued for decades. He didn't do any one
thing great, but he did everything at an average level or above in Orlando.
He's a kid who's a winner and went on record saying he would prefer to play
for an outfit that focuses on ball movement and unselfish play since creating
his own shot is not one of his strengths. Dudley is also a player who plays
with the kind of toughness Sloan just loves. This could very well be a match
made in heaven. Coming into pre-draft, many thought he would be a second
round pick, and if the Jazz don't select him, he may end up being just that.
However, if Utah is going to draft this kid -- barring some kind of trade,
of course -- they are going to have to do it with their first round pick
because he will be gone by the time they go on the clock in round number two
with the 55th pick.

Other Names to Keep an Eye on...

Rudy Fernandez - This shooting guard from Spain whose game is often compared
to Manu Ginobili's would be a natural fit in Utah.  The problem is he will
likely already be gone when Utah makes their selection.  If he ends up being
available, though, this kid could fill the team's need for a legitimate
shooting guard for quite some time.

Rodney Stuckey - Utah has had a history of drafting kids from small schools,
and this Eastern Washington product could be yet another. Stuckey is a classic
tweener who has a shooting guard's game and mentality but at only 6-foot-4
lacks the size to defend the two-guard position in the NBA. Despite what you
might read at some news outlets about Stuckey, he's a very good passer. And
don't think the Jazz aren't aware of this as you can be sure they appreciate
a kid who can score the rock like Stuckey but is also fond of finding his
teammates.

Marc Gasol - Yes, the last name should sound familiar.  This 7-footer is the
brother of Grizzlies' forward Pau Gasol.  And this Gasol is just the type of
post player the Jazz typically take a long look at.  He's got very soft hands
and has a number of moves in the block.  He's probably as fundamentally sound
of a post player as any who will be available when the Jazz are on the clock.
He's great with his back to the basket and sports a feathery touch around the
rim.  He's not great in transition and also not a spectacular athlete, but
these skills are not prerequisites for finding success in Sloan's system at
the five-spot.

If neither of these four players strike Utah's fancy, it's likely that UCLA's
Arron Afflalo will be available as will Ohio State's Daequan Cook, both
players who could possibly fill the team's need at two-guard.

Pick #55

And the Utah Jazz Select... Sun Yue from China - In Orlando, Yue almost looked
out of place at times.  While most of his teammates were dead set on trying
to show their one-on-one abilities, Yue was busy setting screens, making hard
cuts, boxing-out and showing great awareness on the weakside defensively.
He's a very fundamentally sound player who plays the game the right way.
He can also knock down the open shot with a great deal of frequency, and his
range extends comfortably behind the NBA three-point arc. His style of play
would fit in very nicely in Utah.

Other Names to Keep an Eye on...

Ryvon Covile from Detroit Mercy is a big man who can bang and the Jazz will
almost certainly take a look at him. Ali Traore from France is a very athletic
big man with an NBA body.  He's raw but could become a legitimate low post
threat with a little development time. Ohio State's Ron Lewis should also get
a look from the Jazz.  Very strong for his size with a great shooting touch,
Lewis could likely compete for a roster spot next season.


                                http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_22220.shtml 

--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) 
◆ From: 59.41.174.102
推 semicoma:要賭Gasol嗎?
→ semicoma:科科兄弟的資質蠻相近的 假如賭到Gasol兄弟資質相近
→ semicoma:那就賺大了
推 nobody:賭飧月啦　那就有緯來爵士台可以看了
推 Actus:我還是偏好有NCAA經歷的人
→ hardaway:姚明和易建聯應該就排不下了吧 @@??
推 Actus:要看爵士台應該選Sean Chen 或 Garret Tian
推 gratitude:怎麼每年Fernadez都想要參加選秀阿??
推 gratitude:應該增加一些歐洲人來制衡隊上的美國佬