So I was thinking today about the draft and realizing that we do need someone to consistently score the ball. The only guarantee that I can see here is Parker, as even Wiggins, gifts and all has some question marks. Unfortunately, the odds of us getting Parker and Wiggins aren't what I would like them to be.
Which brings me to Aaron Gordon. I love Gordon's game, but he will never be a volume scorer in the NBA. But what he CAN do is almost defend every position. That gives us wide latitude on who we can play on the court with him. That gives us the opportunity to play an undersized chucker type. Those guys can be had on the free market, and two or three seem to materialize each year almost out of thin air.
In most cases, having a shorter defensive liability on the floor can hurt, perhaps fatally, a team. Having a rare defensive talent like Gordon allows us to feature such a player. I'm even thinking it will allow us to hide someone like Kanter who won't have to deal with constant penetration from the wing on defense. This will allow him to stay in position which will also improve his rebounding.
I guess I liken it to Jimmer-era BYU. Jimmer was allowed to be so successful because he had a lockdown like Jackson Emery right beside him. Jimmer was always allowed to take the easiest defensive assignment.
Obviously I'm not advocating for Jimmer for this role for the Jazz, but someone like an Ariza or earlier career Ben Gordon could fit that need, and like I said, those kind of guys are available. It may even be that Burke or Burkes could be that guy too.
So is it possible that bringing in a defensive stopper on the wing (who actually does have more skills than the average defensive stopper) could allow us more latitude in constructing our scoring output, or should we bring in another Raw big man like Randall or Vonleh and hope for the best?
