Aaron Gordon to Utah Jazz - Chad Ford

[Kenwood]

I'm sure it's just the nature of this time of year and how potential draftees are picked apart by "experts", but I am finding myself a bit underwhelmed with the options at 5. It just seems like tanking this past season didn't really leave us with an option that will improve the team in a dramatic way. I really hope I'm wrong, but with the current team I don't see any potential stars and we need one if we're going to even start thinking about the playoffs.

I hear what you're saying because in every draft the guys just above where the Jazz are picking look SO much better. That was already the case and with Embiid slipping it got worse.

HOWEVER...
I take some comfort in Chad Ford's tier system, at least to the extent that he and the GMs he surveyed are accurate (they aren't always, obviously). According to the tiers, there are 9 players in this draft who projected to be better than anyone drafted last year. That helps. #5 may not be as good as #4 or #3 or #1, but every single guy the Jazz are considering is (supposedly) better than the best guy drafted last year.

 

[Revolution 9]

i guess if Gordon is off the board then Embiid is ok. but hes such a huge risk at this point, and a long term project.

the only allure is that after gordon he is the only one for me that has any potential of being a star(that is available @ 5).

 

[NUMBERICA]

so you are impatient but want the jazz to draft the guy that wont be ready to play until around christmas at the earliest and maybe never be ready and is also the guy who i heard will only show his medical records to lakers and celtics (so he probably doesnt even want to be with the jazz)?

thats odd.

Well let me clarify; I'm impatient to have a real franchise player. Having Embiid now would feel like there is at least some light at the end of the tunnel, where drafting Gordon feels like we have to slog through a few more Houston Rockets-esque asset accumulation periods and just cross our fingers that a James Harden situation happens or get even more stupid lucky some other way.

 

[Fishsticks]

Passing on Marcus Smart is an epic fail by the Jazz. He will be one of the top 3 players in this draft and all stats out there back it up.

 

[richgates]

I hear what you're saying because in every draft the guys just above where the Jazz are picking look SO much better. That was already the case and with Embiid slipping it got worse.

HOWEVER...
I take some comfort in Chad Ford's tier system, at least to the extent that he and the GMs he surveyed are accurate (they aren't always, obviously). According to the tiers, there are 9 players in this draft who projected to be better than anyone drafted last year. That helps. #5 may not be as good as #4 or #3 or #1, but every single guy the Jazz are considering is (supposedly) better than the best guy drafted last year.

That's a good point. If that turns out to be the case, then things will be better than anticipated. I guess my expectations were just set too high after such a dismal season. Screw the Cavs and their ridiculous lottery luck!

 

[Fishsticks]

Gordon I going be a good player. High Energy player. Open your eyes. He will be on highlight after highlight. Bring some excitement to the team. Soeone the players can throw a lob too. KId has al lthe tool

Well at least he will be on highlights. **** winning games.

 

[jimmy eat jazz]

I don't know about anyone else, but I think Gordon's biggest red-flag is that he's backed by this guy.

Could be worse. He could be backed by Carolina Jazz, although CJ should like him fine given that Gordon looks and acts more white than some other options.

 

[Hotdog]

If they draft Gordon, any hopes of trading up for Jabari or Wiggins is officially dead. Just letting everyone know.

Oooh. Brilliant insight.

 

[jope]

Andrei Kirilenko is a ****ing swear-word.

agreed, but that being said it was his contract that was obscene. (and i dont blame the FO for giving it; in his final rookie-scale season: 16p, 6r, 3.5a, 3.5b, 1.5s, an all-star appearance under his belt, 2nd straight all-defense team award, led the league in blocked-shots )

 

[Stifle Tower]

agreed, but that being said it was his contract that was obscene. (and i dont blame the FO for giving it; in his final rookie-scale season: 16p, 6r, 3.5a, 3.5b, 1.5s, an all-star appearance under his belt, 2nd straight all-defense team award, led the league in blocked-shots )

Larry H. said at the time AK wasn't a MAX player yet, but would be. He got that half right.
Damn Pau Gasol...it was his contract which led AK to demand equal pay.

 

[Doc Cherno]

I hope all this smoke about CLE wanting to trade with the Jazz is something like CLE really wanting Embiid but not willing to roll the dice as is. They trade with the Jazz for #5 (Embiid and next year's highest pick plus any other enticements). I'm not ready to throw in the towel on Favors, Burks, Burke or Kanter until they play under the mighty Quin, but I'd probably trade one for the number one if the only other condition was the #5 pick. If there's no trade and the draft unfurls with Wiggins, Parker, Exum, and Gordon off the board I'd take a flier on Embiid. Maybe he's Oden.2, and that's a season plus down the toilet, but I'm not as excited as other with Smart, Vonleh, etc.

My youngest daughter's birthday is Thursday. I just keep hoping I won't ruin her party with loud, long crying jags. She's a pretty big fan herself, too, so it could be a long night for the other girls. At least there will be cake.

 

[Stoked]

Passing on Marcus Smart is an epic fail by the Jazz. He will be one of the top 3 players in this draft and all stats out there back it up.

So far the Jazz have not passed on anyone. They tried 4 times to get Smart to come in and his camp refused. So if anything it is Smart passing on the Jazz.