My mid-March Madness board for the Jazz with some notes:
1. Russell - this is the first time I am putting Russell No. 1... His offensive playmaking and shooting can be great for this team, I feel like he's the best fit for the team and quite possibly the best player. He's the closest thing to a Curry in this draft or in most drafts. Amazing off-the-dribble shooting, amazing playmaking and passing, great vision... I love him next to Exum in the long run.
2. Towns- I like him better than Okafor, he has better current-NBA skills than the somewhat outdated style that Okafor plays, he's also much better defender and rim protector, better passer, better shooter.
3. Okafor - he's an exceptional offensive player, especially in the post, but I feel like the NBA right now is moving away from the post game and post-game is one of the least efficient ways to score.
4. Mudiay - most of my "scouting" on him is done by highlight videos so I mostly go by what real scouts have written and said about him, I like what I've seen on highlight reel, I don't know much about his shortcomings though
5. Hezonja - still high on him. I actually think I might move him ahead of Mudiay by draft time. I love his shooting and his athleticism, I think he has everything to be an exceptional two-way player in the league.
6. Winslow - I love this guy. Finally decided to move him ahead of Johnson(I think I had him ahead of Johnson in the beginning of the season, but his mid-season slump made me put him behind him... no longer, Justise prevails!)... I just like him better. He seems like a smart player, like a team player, like a player who does all the dirty work and all the little things that make you win games. According to reports he's a great team player and a gym rat. He's shooting ridiculous 67-70% around the rim and is taking about 60% of his shots around the rim. That's crazy efficiency. Great in transition, great at finishing through contact. His 3p shot is not bad either, shooting about 40%. his FG% falls because of his midrange struggles, but I believe if he's indeed a hard worker like they say he is, that he will improve in that area as well... Also... exceptional defender.
7. Johnson - I like him... I like his defensive intensity and I like he takes pride in his defense. I am still not sold on his offensive game.
8. WCS - how nice would it be to have a second defensive monster and rim protector on the team - take Gobert out for some rest... oh you think you can score in the paint now that the Stifle tower is out? Nope, WCS is in the game.
9. Porzingis - I absolutely love his offensive potential and outlooks. He can be a "generational player" in offense. Smooth shot(both out of curls, on spot ups, on turnaround jumpers), exceptional athleticism, great runner on the break. His feel for the game and IQ, as well as off the ball defense make him a very risky pick, though.
10. Oubre - crazy measurements, very raw, some questions about his attitude... I would be good with us getting him and giving him to Quin to develop. Looks like a good project.
11. Portis - Rarely do you see great defensive bigs who can stretch the floor, he seems a bit raw too, but I still like him...
12. Kaminsky - polished big who can stretch the floor, I've seen several scouts and draft experts say he'd be a good pick for Utah... I can see the appeal, he's probably one of the players in this draft most ready to contribute right away, and to add to this - he seems like a great complement for both our bigs...
13. Turner - another project big who can shoot and seems to have good rim protection prospects. He's interesting but he seems limited in everything else he does on the floor.
14. Looney - the more I watch him, the less I like... he seems very limited offensively to me. He plays hard at times, and then he just lets opponents walk over him on the glass. He fights like a lion for a rebound, and then just gives up inside position. I really don't know what to make of him. To me he's one of the weirdest prospects to evaluate, I might be completely off on him and he might turn into a beast, but I don't like his skill... Most of his damage in offense is done on jumpers and on the glass. I don't like his play off the dribble at all.
15. Dunn - my favourite player to watch in this year's college basketball... such an exciting basketball player. He might be a bit raw, has TO issues(which I think are very corrigible), but also has crazy assist numbers and great speed and measurements. Has insane defensive potential too. I don't think we need to pick a PG late in the lottery but if we are going to pick a PG I like his prospects better than Grant and Wright.
