Listen, all these workouts and combines are worth maybe 5% of total evaluation at most. Folks like Podkolzine, Milicic, Skita did well, but they never accomplished anything in organized basketball, and even if they did well on the combine, it means very little. Kanter never player meaningful organized basketball. Now, the reason for it is that he wasn't eligible, so it's not really his fault, but it is indeed a fact. How do we know if he would be a star on Kentucky? Maybe he would, maybe he would just a rotation player there. The gamble here is just so huge. I mean why is Kanter a better prospect than Koufos would be - if KoKo sat his first year of College? Koufos actually has better size, put up better numbers at U18 junior Euro tournament, played for his national team. I would not be surprised if Kanter ends up a sliding down in the draft, just like Koufos was. At least we know Knight was the star of a team that he led to final 4 as a freshman. There is some certainty there and loads of potential that was demonstrated successfully against tough, mostly older and more experienced competition. Is that worth #3 pick? I don't see anyone else in the draft leading his team to great performance in his first year, while putting together solid numbers. If we trade down, we will end up with the scrub. At least Knight, while may not be worth #3 in most drafts, is probably top 5-7 in most drafts. After Williams, Irving, and Knight all the guys would typically be available in teens or below in most drafts. In this draft I see big drop-off after Irving and Williams, and even bigger drop-off after Knight, who is clearly 3d best prospect.
I went with Kanter and I think the Jazz will as well if their choice is between these two. I don't see it as a close call either.