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KOC: Poker-faced or not thrilled with the draft?

I couldn't find the clip, but here's a quote from O'Connor in the Deseret News.

"I'm gonna make one statement and I won't say another thing about it. And if you ask me, I'm gonna get grouchy on it," O'Connor said of Fredette. "We had him in our top 10 on our board. But it's something we feel would be taking away from Kanter and Alec Burks."

This doesn't say anything to me other than I'm tired of all the ****ing Jimmer questions... It certainly doesn't say we ranked Jimmer higher than Burks.
 
I couldn't find the clip, but here's a quote from O'Connor in the Deseret News.

"I'm gonna make one statement and I won't say another thing about it. And if you ask me, I'm gonna get grouchy on it," O'Connor said of Fredette. "We had him in our top 10 on our board. But it's something we feel would be taking away from Kanter and Alec Burks."

That still doesn't mean Jimmer was higher. It means I am going to talk the guy we did draft, not the guy we didn't.
 
I am so glad we didn't draft Jimmer. Every headline- Jimmer blah blah blah. Every question- Jimmer blah blah blah. It would have been a mess
 
That still doesn't mean Jimmer was higher. It means I am going to talk the guy we did draft, not the guy we didn't.
Well, I guess it could be taken that way...if the Jazz had Burks in their top-10. That's always a possibility. Perhaps Thompson and Biyombo weren't in the jazz' top-10 and Burks was in there at #9 with Fredette 10th. If that makes you feel better, then go ahead.

KOC also stated, "I think the key is we felt comfortable with him at 12." To me, if they had a guy in their top-10 and he slipped, there would be a little more excitement, as in "we're excited he was still there when we picked. We had him higher on our board and we're happy he was available at #12."
 
Well, I guess it could be taken that way...if the Jazz had Burks in their top-10. That's always a possibility. Perhaps Thompson and Biyombo weren't in the jazz' top-10 and Burks was in there at #9 with Fredette 10th. If that makes you feel better, then go ahead.

KOC also stated, "I think the key is we felt comfortable with him at 12." To me, if they had a guy in their top-10 and he slipped, there would be a little more excitement, as in "we're excited he was still there when we picked. We had him higher on our board and we're happy he was available at #12."

Does it really even matter at this point?
 
Plus, I actually think Burks may have the most upside of any player in this draft. If he becomes a good perimeter shooter (not that he can't score well already), he could be absurdly good within 2-3 years.

Super athletic, his floor is probably Ronnie Brewer with a better handle and worse defense, his ceiling I don't want to discuss for fear of being called a homer.
 
Well, I guess it could be taken that way...if the Jazz had Burks in their top-10. That's always a possibility. Perhaps Thompson and Biyombo weren't in the jazz' top-10 and Burks was in there at #9 with Fredette 10th. If that makes you feel better, then go ahead.

KOC also stated, "I think the key is we felt comfortable with him at 12." To me, if they had a guy in their top-10 and he slipped, there would be a little more excitement, as in "we're excited he was still there when we picked. We had him higher on our board and we're happy he was available at #12."
I'm not going to hunt down a link, but I though KOC said that he didn't think Burks would still be available at 12. Everything points to the Jazz having Burks rated quite high, potentially in the top 8 picks.
 
I'm not going to hunt down a link, but I though KOC said that he didn't think Burks would still be available at 12. Everything points to the Jazz having Burks rated quite high, potentially in the top 8 picks.

KOC was flat out asked if he was surprised if Burks was available, and he did not say that he was. Jimmer, Kemba, and Knight are difference makers. They actually helped their teams get ranked, and move far in the tournament. Walker and Knight reached final 4, with Kemba winning it all. Jimmer was player of the year. KOC had them in top 10, and they all went in top 10. He was not surprised Burks was available at 12, but he was comfortable with the pick. To me, it means he had them higher, and quite frankly it is a no brainer that they are better picks. But ... KOC had #12, and he though he picked a solid guy for #12. Let's not make it any more than what it is. We did not get a steal here. Better guys (Kemba, Knight, Jimmer) were gone, and we took the next tier guy, who is solid for 12, but not great by any stretch of imagination.
 
As already stated, KoC has been running his arse off between globe-trotting looking at players, working them out, and dealing with incessant Jimmer questions. No doubt he was flat wore out. As far as where players were ranked who were picked before us, it's irrelevant now. We got a guy we like in Burks who has demonstrated the skills to play both G positions, and has shown a great attitude and maturity for a young man not quite 20 years old.
 
KOC was being KOC in my mind and not showing too much emotion. Nothing more or less. I think inside though, he was probably thrilled with what he was able to do.
 
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