This.
When D. Will says we need a couple of pieces, he means that we need a couple of players who are better than the players we already have, not that we need more players. This lottery pick is a chance to add talent to the team. Swing on talent. If we miss, so what? Monroe and Aldrich don't get the Jazz past the 2nd round.
Babbit, George and Whiteside have all-star talent, or at least they have the ability to impact the game. Whether they reach their potential, who knows, but after the top 5 players in this draft are gone, those are the ones we should be looking at.
I agree. Aldrich is the safest pick. But do you think he stops Bynum or Gasol? He'll get eaten alive by those two.
In many ways, Hassan reminds me of Bynum. Yes, Bynum came out of HS, but Whiteside doesn't have much more experience than that. Both are/were extremely raw. Deron was one of those who said we needed a shot-blocker inside. Draft Hassan and tell Deron to take him under his wing in terms of practicing hard, adjusting to the NBA, etc.
If the risk is too great for the FO to stomach, then go with Babbitt or George. Jazz will need a starter at SF once AK gets traded/leaves. I don't want AK back at any price. He's not as quick as he once was and he consistently gets hurt. Babbitt or George would give the Jazz a 3-man rotation of players at the wing who can all shoot out to the 3-pt line. That's one way to beat the Lakers; if you can't get inside, you just shoot over the top.
I'm hoping the Jazz roll the dice with Hassan. Risky, yes. But if he becomes anything like Camby in 2-3 years, the Jazz would contend for a title (if they also get another asset from AK's expiring or re-sign Carlos).
Jazz need game-changers, not just adequate starters. IMO, Wall, Turner, Cousins and Favors are the former type. Babbitt, George and Whiteside have that potential. Monroe, Davis, Aldrich and Patterson will be nice players, but complementary types. They're not going to be dominant at their positions.