Chris
Well-Known Member
Assuming the Jazz keep pick #12, I think they should pick Denzel Valentine. While there are questions about his defensive prospects at the NBA level -- given his lack of lateral quickness and pure athleticism -- I don't see too many other deficiencies that would alarm me. On the positive side, I have a few items to offer:
1. He seems to be NBA ready. Around the time the season begins, Valentine will be 23. While his defensive game will certainly need improvement, his offensive game has some serious polish. He is consistent, plays within himself, has a terrific all-around offensive game, and has maturity and leadership in spades. He would likely not need 2-3 years to develop as a bench / D-League player, like some other wing prospects in this draft. For a team and fan base that is (and should be) ready to win now, he would be a good fit.
2. He provides much-needed outside shooting ability. He hit over 44% of his threes this past season. He appears to be able to create for himself and come off screens and knock down shots with proficiency and consistency. That ability alone on this Jazz team would be worth its weight in gold.
3. He brings versatility. While slightly undersized at the NBA 3, he does have a good wingspan for a 6'6" player. He could play the 1, the 2 (likely his best fit) and the 3. He can dribble, be a playmaker, hit from outside, drive and finish either in the lane or as a jump shooter. He has rebounding ability. He also has a good feel for the game and a great basketball IQ.
4. He could be a solid contributor at a position where the Jazz need depth. Let's be honest: as much as we like Alec Burks, we can't count on him to be healthy in any given season. Few of us seem to be excited about Chris Johnson and there is some uncertainty about Hayward's long-term commitment to the team. Joe Ingles is good, but not great. Get Valentine into the pipeline. In addition to all of the other things I've mentioned, he takes care of the ball; for a guy who passes as much as he does, he has a great assist-to-turnover ratio.
5. He's a jack of all trades. While many would be quick to point out that this also means "master of none," I ask you: what do you think you're going to get at pick #12? If he can improve his defense, he'll be a valuable all-around player without any glaring weaknesses. In this modern-day NBA, where position versatility is key, a coach like Quin Snyder can accentuate Valentine's positives and mask his weaknesses as he develops over the next few years.
6. His passing game at three positions complements the Jazz's offensive makeup. Some teams have definitive scorers, who are surrounded by role players; we don't. And while this is a liability a decent portion of the time and is one of the reasons we're not currently a playoff team, it is who we are right now. Even Hayward and (going forward) Hood, who you could make the case are the team's scorers, are solid all-around players who can do other things well. Valentine complements a team like the Jazz because he is adept at finding his teammates anywhere on the floor. But while he is a willing passer, he is also capable of scoring on his own. One of the things that the Jazz CAN do is hurt you from a number of different positions on a given night. Valentine would make that even more true with his skill set.
7. His question marks on the defensive end will be lessened by the Jazz's ability to play team defense. I'm confident that Valentine can become at least a decent NBA defender. But until that happens, I don't think -- at the 2-guard -- that he will kill the team in the same way that Big Al or Kanter's lack of defense tended to in years past. And with Valentine's wingspan, he has at least some physical tools to work with, even if he lacks the lateral quickness.
8. He's a good selection at #12 in this particular draft. This is a two-person draft, with some overall depth in the rest of the field. In looking at various mock drafts, would-be experts are all over the map with where these prospects project. More so than I've noticed in the last half dozen years. So I don't think an argument that -- within reason -- a player was taken a few spots too early is going to hold any real water once the Draft is in the books.
1. He seems to be NBA ready. Around the time the season begins, Valentine will be 23. While his defensive game will certainly need improvement, his offensive game has some serious polish. He is consistent, plays within himself, has a terrific all-around offensive game, and has maturity and leadership in spades. He would likely not need 2-3 years to develop as a bench / D-League player, like some other wing prospects in this draft. For a team and fan base that is (and should be) ready to win now, he would be a good fit.
2. He provides much-needed outside shooting ability. He hit over 44% of his threes this past season. He appears to be able to create for himself and come off screens and knock down shots with proficiency and consistency. That ability alone on this Jazz team would be worth its weight in gold.
3. He brings versatility. While slightly undersized at the NBA 3, he does have a good wingspan for a 6'6" player. He could play the 1, the 2 (likely his best fit) and the 3. He can dribble, be a playmaker, hit from outside, drive and finish either in the lane or as a jump shooter. He has rebounding ability. He also has a good feel for the game and a great basketball IQ.
4. He could be a solid contributor at a position where the Jazz need depth. Let's be honest: as much as we like Alec Burks, we can't count on him to be healthy in any given season. Few of us seem to be excited about Chris Johnson and there is some uncertainty about Hayward's long-term commitment to the team. Joe Ingles is good, but not great. Get Valentine into the pipeline. In addition to all of the other things I've mentioned, he takes care of the ball; for a guy who passes as much as he does, he has a great assist-to-turnover ratio.
5. He's a jack of all trades. While many would be quick to point out that this also means "master of none," I ask you: what do you think you're going to get at pick #12? If he can improve his defense, he'll be a valuable all-around player without any glaring weaknesses. In this modern-day NBA, where position versatility is key, a coach like Quin Snyder can accentuate Valentine's positives and mask his weaknesses as he develops over the next few years.
6. His passing game at three positions complements the Jazz's offensive makeup. Some teams have definitive scorers, who are surrounded by role players; we don't. And while this is a liability a decent portion of the time and is one of the reasons we're not currently a playoff team, it is who we are right now. Even Hayward and (going forward) Hood, who you could make the case are the team's scorers, are solid all-around players who can do other things well. Valentine complements a team like the Jazz because he is adept at finding his teammates anywhere on the floor. But while he is a willing passer, he is also capable of scoring on his own. One of the things that the Jazz CAN do is hurt you from a number of different positions on a given night. Valentine would make that even more true with his skill set.
7. His question marks on the defensive end will be lessened by the Jazz's ability to play team defense. I'm confident that Valentine can become at least a decent NBA defender. But until that happens, I don't think -- at the 2-guard -- that he will kill the team in the same way that Big Al or Kanter's lack of defense tended to in years past. And with Valentine's wingspan, he has at least some physical tools to work with, even if he lacks the lateral quickness.
8. He's a good selection at #12 in this particular draft. This is a two-person draft, with some overall depth in the rest of the field. In looking at various mock drafts, would-be experts are all over the map with where these prospects project. More so than I've noticed in the last half dozen years. So I don't think an argument that -- within reason -- a player was taken a few spots too early is going to hold any real water once the Draft is in the books.
