SI Article: "Kanter passes first few tests but team workouts will be key"

[Hipporippo]

I'm not saying that a clean physical exam would ensure anyone of an injury-free career. Actually, I'm quite sure it makes little difference at all long-term. Any player comes with a risk of being injured down the line. A physical exam doesn't even exclude that the player is trying to mask a current injury. The things it will turn up are few and far between, ie. lack of an ACL in either knee like Dejaun Blair.

The treadmill test, lateral quickness drills, and dunking from the free throw line say a lot more to me about his current state of injury (or non-injury) than any physical exam would.

Just think about it for a moment. Who would be more frail in the NBA brawl-type game? rail-thin, gangly Borchardt or built-like-bull Kanter? It's not really fair to compare the two.
I'm just saying that the claims of him being injury prone are completely unsubstantiated.

 

[mellow]

But Kanter's can?

Didn't know it was an issue. I was trying to say Al is a likable guy but flawed, if the Jazz think Kanter is BPA they should not hesitate to take him just because they have AL, Milsap and Favours.

I'm not advocating any player this year, including Kanter. Last year I was one of the idiots who booed the Hayward pick because I thought the jazz needed a big (P. Patterson). This year the Jazz have more holes, more options, a new coach and the uncertainty of a lockout--KOC can do whatever he wants.

 

[Hantlers]

I really have no problem trading Al Jefferson. Hell, we just traded Deron Williams. We've got to remember that the only reason we even have Al Jeff in the first place is because we were looking to contend for a championship and needed a big. We needed to appease Deron after getting rid of our best post scorer. Well...Deron is gone. And now we have a 26-27 year old, great post scorer, possibly not very smart player in his place. We're no longer in contender mode, we're in rebuilding mode, and by the time we could possibly begin to contend Jefferson is going to be 30 and Kanter is going to be just entering the beginning of his prime stage. If KOC thinks that Kanter is going to be a better player, he will draft him. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he's trying to shop Jefferson right now. It's gonna be hard though, he has the reputation of always being on a losing team and has a large contract. But don't think that KOC won't try to trade him just because we've only had him for a year. IMO, we really only have two players we won't trade, Hayward and Favors. Those two are the faces of the franchise now. Obviously the other problem with this idea is that we also have a 28 year old PG....so I could understand an argument for Knight. But really, the only way I'm going to be happy with drafting Knight is if we trade down. He's just not worth the #3 pick. I look at it this way, in my opinion (which doesn't mean jack) Kanter is going to be a great player. Knight will be a good player. The difference between great and good is what makes a team a championship contender and what makes a team a 7/8 seed every year.

This isn't a perfect draft. We're going to get a role player with our #12 pick, I mean, the chances of getting a pretty good player there is slim. But we have the opportunity to get a young, skilled big man on a rebuilding team and people are saying no because we have Jefferson?! People, Jefferson is expendable. KOC is a very good GM and he will make a good decision. I'm not worried about what choice he's going to make, but if the choice is mine, I would draft Kanter and trade Jefferson. Keep Millsap and tell him he's going to get his 30 minutes but it's coming off of the bench. If we want a veteran as a mentor, you can be damn sure that it's going to be Millsap and not Jefferson.

 

[BENTLEY]

Nice.

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

Either that or he could be completely out of the League or ride a pine somewhere, like Koufos, or play in Europe.



Really? And the fact you are making this entire evaluation based on a bunch of nothing is not a giant red flag?

So he should not be drafted at all based on that logic.

 

[Headtrip]

I really have no problem trading Al Jefferson. Hell, we just traded Deron Williams. We've got to remember that the only reason we even have Al Jeff in the first place is because we were looking to contend for a championship and needed a big. We needed to appease Deron after getting rid of our best post scorer. Well...Deron is gone. And now we have a 26-27 year old, great post scorer, possibly not very smart player in his place. We're no longer in contender mode, we're in rebuilding mode, and by the time we could possibly begin to contend Jefferson is going to be 30 and Kanter is going to be just entering the beginning of his prime stage. If KOC thinks that Kanter is going to be a better player, he will draft him. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he's trying to shop Jefferson right now. It's gonna be hard though, he has the reputation of always being on a losing team and has a large contract. But don't think that KOC won't try to trade him just because we've only had him for a year. IMO, we really only have two players we won't trade, Hayward and Favors. Those two are the faces of the franchise now. Obviously the other problem with this idea is that we also have a 28 year old PG....so I could understand an argument for Knight. But really, the only way I'm going to be happy with drafting Knight is if we trade down. He's just not worth the #3 pick. I look at it this way, in my opinion (which doesn't mean jack) Kanter is going to be a great player. Knight will be a good player. The difference between great and good is what makes a team a championship contender and what makes a team a 7/8 seed every year.

This isn't a perfect draft. We're going to get a role player with our #12 pick, I mean, the chances of getting a pretty good player there is slim. But we have the opportunity to get a young, skilled big man on a rebuilding team and people are saying no because we have Jefferson?! People, Jefferson is expendable. KOC is a very good GM and he will make a good decision. I'm not worried about what choice he's going to make, but if the choice is mine, I would draft Kanter and trade Jefferson. Keep Millsap and tell him he's going to get his 30 minutes but it's coming off of the bench. If we want a veteran as a mentor, you can be damn sure that it's going to be Millsap and not Jefferson.

Very nice post. The only thing I disagree with is that we should trade AL now. I'm all for picking Kanter, he has great potential, range on his shot, and is clearly not afraid of some hard work. That said, there just isn't much film on the guy and he comes with a lot of risk. Keeping Al around for at least another year to see what we really have (would have) in Kanter is a smart move, and it would allow for Kanter to come off the bench while he gets fully acclimated to the NBA. Also, If Al works out with Sap this offseason like he says he will, he will come back in great shape and his trade value will be at an all time high, it's really a win/win for the Jazz.

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

Very nice post. The only thing I disagree with is that we should trade AL now. I'm all for picking Kanter, he has great potential, range on his shot, and is clearly not afraid of some hard work. That said, there just isn't much film on the guy and he comes with a lot of risk. Keeping Al around for at least another year to see what we really have (would have) in Kanter is a smart move, and it would allow for Kanter to come off the bench while he gets fully acclimated to the NBA. Also, If Al works out with Sap this offseason like he says he will, he will come back in great shape and his trade value will be at an all time high, it's really a win/win for the Jazz.

Exactly. A frontcourt of Favors-Kanter-Jefferson-Millsap-Okur could be the best in the league so long as guys are healthy (Okur), improving (Favors), and improving their conditioning as needed(Jefferson)...even still, it would be a very, very good frontline. Add Singleton at #12 (I have a feeling he'll be gone by then) and we help fill our need for a sf by getting a potential elite defender and guy who may be able to stretch the floor some at the 3.

 

[Deleted member 848]

Exactly. A frontcourt of Favors-Kanter-Jefferson-Millsap-Okur could be the best in the league so long as guys are healthy (Okur), improving (Favors), and improving their conditioning as needed(Jefferson)...even still, it would be a very, very good frontline. Add Singleton at #12 (I have a feeling he'll be gone by then) and we help fill our need for a sf by getting a potential elite defender and guy who may be able to stretch the floor some at the 3.

That frontourt would ****ing wreak absolute havoc in the NBA 2 years from now
SF: Singleton/AK (signed for cheap)/Millsap
PF: Favors/Kanter)/Millsap/Okur
C: (Kanter/Favors)/BigAl/Okur
*favors and kanter are both PFs by preference, so one would have to choose to play center.
I'm slowly becoming more and more fond of Kanter. I'm still all for drafting Singleton at 12 (I seriously hope his stock doesn't continue to rise) but Kanter could be a great 3rd pick. Seriously excited for late June.

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

I think Favors would be the best center of the group as his standing reach and max vert reach are both better than Kanter's (I think) and his footspeed and defensive iq seems very strong, and are also likely better than Enes'.

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

Although it would depend on match-ups as well of course.

 

[sirkickyass]

I think Kanter is a natural fit at Center. He measured out at 6'11" in Chicago. This indicates he's still growing since he was 6'10" at the Nike Hoop Summit. He could end up at 7'0" by the time he's 20. In what little people have seen of him he can dominate and bully smaller players, even those that are highly touted (the infamous outburst in 22 minutes came against the 6'9" Jared Sullinger, who was the McDonalds MVP).

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

I think Kanter is a natural fit at Center. He measured out at 6'11" in Chicago. This indicates he's still growing since he was 6'10" at the Nike Hoop Summit. He could end up at 7'0" by the time he's 20.

Because he grew over the last year and a half does not indicate at all that he is still growing. He may be. He may not be. Also, Favors measured out bigger in both standing reach and wingspan than Kanter. Kanter's athletic measurements are not available but I also think it's safe to say Favors vert would be better than Kanter's as well.