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Following Potential 2018 Draftees

The Jazz need a dominant long 2-way forward to go with their dominant center in Rudy and emerging dominant guard in Mitchell. I'm on the Metu bandwagon to start the season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Fy13Q2QWfk
 
Not sure how he'll measure (if any better than 2016--doubt it) but i would love Miles Bridges. I'm a Sparty fan so I'm biased but I think he has the tools to be 2 way player who can shoot the 3, rebound, pass, penetrate some (needs to work on this), and play some small ball 4. His measurements are similar to Hayward's but he's a better athlete while still being damn strong. I also love that he went back to school. He wants to win.

Of course he'll be out of our reach.
 
These are the names who I'm interested in outside of the top hype Freshman:

Josh Okogie: Young sophomore like John Collins (age wise). 7' wingspan SG out out of Georgia Tech. High FTR scorer with defensive upside.

Justin Jackson: Stretch 4 out of Maryland. Great shooter but only an average athlete. Huge 7'3 wingspan.

Jacob Evans: Probably my favorite as of right now in terms of guys who arent currently projected 1st round picks. 6'6 wing w/ all-around game. Complete athlete from Cincinnati

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgDCX7GPnqY
 
Not sure how he'll measure (if any better than 2016--doubt it) but i would love Miles Bridges. I'm a Sparty fan so I'm biased but I think he has the tools to be 2 way player who can shoot the 3, rebound, pass, penetrate some (needs to work on this), and play some small ball 4. His measurements are similar to Hayward's but he's a better athlete while still being damn strong. I also love that he went back to school. He wants to win.

Of course he'll be out of our reach.

I like Miles Bridges a lot
 
Bridges will go lottery. I like him, but I don't think his upside is quite as high as Diallo's atm. I'm saying that not knowing if Diallo can shoot from distance.
 
These are the names who I'm interested in outside of the top hype Freshman:

Josh Okogie: Young sophomore like John Collins (age wise). 7' wingspan SG out out of Georgia Tech. High FTR scorer with defensive upside.

Justin Jackson: Stretch 4 out of Maryland. Great shooter but only an average athlete. Huge 7'3 wingspan.

Jacob Evans: Probably my favorite as of right now in terms of guys who arent currently projected 1st round picks. 6'6 wing w/ all-around game. Complete athlete from Cincinnati

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgDCX7GPnqY


I will listen to you since you got mitchell spot on but dont go all Kuzma again please
 
I think Metu being more raw and physically tougher than Skal Labissiere will ultimately be at least as good a two-way player as Skal. It'll take a few years though. Putting him next to Rudy and our young backcourt would be sweet. He's the same age as Donovan Mitchell. So he could get onto our timeline within 2 - 3 years when the Warriors are ready to slow down a little.
 
Assuming Mitchell continues to pan out and Exum develops enough to be at least an impact combo-guard off the bench (with Rubio as our starter), I think we're looking for a 6'10" / 225 lbs lengthy, two-way PF like Labissiere or essentially a version of Aaron Gordon who can dribble a bit and shoot. This was initially the appeal of DJ Wilson in this 2017 draft, but I don't think Wilson has the mental/physical toughness that it takes. I think Metu does have it, and he's improving rapidly. I think he'll go lottery in 2018 when it's said and done, probably sneaking up to or just above Robert Williams.

The Jazz should also look for a 6'7" versatile, explosive and preternatural wing talent. I really liked Josh Smith in the 2017 draft and think he'll prove to be a full echelon above Tatum. There are a few of these SF/wing prospects in the middle of the first round of 2018 where I think the Jazz will be drafting this next year. The good news about playing in the Western Conference is that you can build a good team and still end up drafting in the lottery (or in range if you can trade up a bit). Whereas, the middling EC teams will have their win total inflated by around 5 games. This is how the Jazz ended up with the 12th pick in 2015, and it's possible the Jazz will be in a similar situation if they win 40 games this year.

Regarding Gordon Hayward, I think he is ideally a facilitator and secondary scoring option. He should neither be the primary ball handler, nor be the primary scoring option. He was born to play between a solid guard (like Damian Lillard) and a dominant scoring big (like Anthony Davis). Any team that has Hayward in a more featured role is going to have a limited ceiling and won't likely make the NBA Finals. Losing out on Hayward at $32M per year is not a bad thing. It enables the Jazz to maintain flexibility and keep looking for younger, better talent.
 
Remember 2 years ago (2015/16) when many people thought Derrick Favors was our best player and the Jazz with their injuries won 40 games? I think that's about where the Jazz are right now, only this time Rudy Gobert is clearly our best player.

Mitchell and Exum need to prove themselves this year, Exum especially.

Favors will probably be moved or will just walk.

Joe Johnson and/or Joe Ingles might be moved. It could go either way with them.

This can still work, but the young guys need to step into their roles and progress quickly.
 
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