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Jazz Controlling the Draft Board

honz

honz

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https://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/17176/jazz-controlling-the-draft-board

With it looking pretty clear who the top 8 picks in the NBA Draft will be, all eyes are now focused on the Utah Jazz with the ninth pick in the draft.

The Jazz were hoping that Georgetown's Greg Monroe fell to them at No. 9. But with the Pistons poised to take him two picks ahead, the team is struggling to find the right fit. Among the candidates are two bigs -- Ed Davis and Patrick Patterson -- and three wings -- Gordon Hayward, Luke Babbitt and Xavier Henry.

As of this afternoon, Jazz brass still hadn't decided which direction they would go. Davis probably fits the biggest need for the Jazz. Carlos Boozer is an unrestricted free agent this summer and may not return to Utah. However, Davis has more potential than actual production right now.

Of the wings, each offer the Jazz a different look. Henry is the best shooter of the group. Babbitt is the best pure scorer. Hayward is the most versatile player of the three, but lacks strength and has an inconsistent jumper.

The team is also looking at several potential deals that could move them up in the draft or give them another pick in the mid first round.

What the Jazz do could have a powerful effect on the rest of the draft. Several teams are jockeying for the 10th pick in the draft, but are unsure of it's value until they know who's left on the board.
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I, like many Jazz fans, have been looking at this draft as a way to fill a need. We Jazz fans have been burned by this to many times in the past. We need to look at the best player available even if it is a redundancy. That at least can translate into a tradable asset. So looking these players, which is the best overall player?

Babbit
Davis
Patterson
Henry
Hayward
 
YB85 said:
1. Henry
1a. Patterson
3. Davis
4. Hayward





20. Babbitt
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Obviously I have Hayward on top, otherwise your rankings pretty much mirror mine. I'd be pretty happy with any of those guys and I don't want Luke Baby.
 
Damn, after seeing the thread title I got a little excited. Almost as much as when I took a Viagra the other day.

Big let down.

(I know, that's what she said).
 
Draft Babbitt or Xavier Henry. Babbitt is my personal favorite. Very efficient scorer and that is what we need next to the pick and roll and in Sloan's offense.
He can hit the 3 and is a very good free throw shooter and he is athletic and he is a good help defender. Good rebounder. His lateral quickness is the only question mark I see. Which maybe our outsourced trainer can fix that. Like how he improved Millsap and Brewer's and AK's.
 
Chad Feldheimer said:
Drafting a wing for this Jazz team would be a total failure
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you're a total failure. If you can't see what an elite athlete at the wing would do for this team, then I suggest you tune into some games. Plus, it is likely that there will not be a big at #9 who will EVER contend with the current Laker front court.

In short, if we can't nab Monroe or Cousins, I think our smartest move is to take a wing.
 
KrazeeEyezKilla said:
Why are you so low on Babbitt?
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I can't answer for him but for me Babbit can't do two things in the NBA- drive to the hoop or play defense. Those are the thing that count in big games. He is a excellent jump shooter.

Additionally I don't think Henry can guard 2's in the NBA. Which means he is a 3. He is still a good player but that knocks a little of his shine off.

I have similar defensive concerns for Hayward. But he strikes me as a player that is likely to continue to improve.

That said I our of those 5 I would probably take Patterson. He is has a post game. He has a jumper. He can finish on the pick and roll. Defensively he is okay and has the tools to get better. He needs to become a better rebounder but if he was perfect he would have gone in the first couple of picks.
 
The difference between Hayward and Babbitt? Heart and toughness. Airplane and simple.
 
Qman said:
I can't answer for him but for me Babbit can't do two things in the NBA- drive to the hoop or play defense. Those are the thing that count in big games. He is a excellent jump shooter.

Additionally I don't think Henry can guard 2's in the NBA. Which means he is a 3. He is still a good player but that knocks a little of his shine off.

I have similar defensive concerns for Hayward. But he strikes me as a player that is likely to continue to improve.

That said I our of those 5 I would probably take Patterson. He is has a post game. He has a jumper. He can finish on the pick and roll. Defensively he is okay and has the tools to get better. He needs to become a better rebounder but if he was perfect he would have gone in the first couple of picks.
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Patterson is someone we should be looking at after we acquire Boston's 19th pick and use that in a trade to move up. Selecting him at 12-14 is a possibility. Here's to wishful thinking!
 
New_Anonymity_Old_Sage said:
you're a total failure. If you can't see what an elite athlete at the wing would do for this team, then I suggest you tune into some games. Plus, it is likely that there will not be a big at #9 who will EVER contend with the current Laker front court.

In short, if we can't nab Monroe or Cousins, I think our smartest move is to take a wing.
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The only elite athlete that would still be available when we draft is Paul George. None of Babbitt, Hayward and Henry compares to him athletically. I will be okay if the Jazz draft George but drafting one of those three would be disappointing, because they are not going to be better than CJ and Matthews, which means the team will not improve in any area.
 
Patterson seems to be flying under everyone's radar. He could easily end up the Boozer of this year's draft.
 
KrazeeEyezKilla said:
Why are you so low on Babbitt?
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History. Name another guy from the past 20 or so years who played at a mid-major and whose team didn't get to the tourney. If he was all that, why did his team suck? The guy was intimidated in Logan, Utah. Wait until he hits the real stage.
 
YB85 said:
History. Name another guy from the past 20 or so years who played at a mid-major and whose team didn't get to the tourney. If he was all that, why did his team suck? The guy was intimidated in Logan, Utah. Wait until he hits the real stage.
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Jason Thompson? Can't remember if Rider made the tournament, though.
 
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