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Who are you watching? March Madness? Free Agency?
Posted by: Patrick on March 17th, 2013
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.With march madness around the corner, our season possibly coming to an early end, and knowing we only have half a team under contract next season, who are you watching. Lets take a quick look at possibilities for this coming playoff season, both in college and free agents in the NBA who we may want to look at. First lets take the college players, but Im going to make two lists. The first list will be guys who I really like all the way through the second round, and guys who need some work in the second list.
Guys I really like:
Otto Porter http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/56909/otto-porter Otto fills a need that the Jazz has, outside shooting some defense and a guy who can take over the game when its needed. He has a all around game that will strengthen in time.
Trey Burke http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/56670/trey-burke The big knock on Burke is his size. But if you look in the NBA, he still could be a solid to near elite PG who has a total game. I like him best out of the PGs this draft season.
Anthony Bennett http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/61902/anthony-bennett Could he be the next Millsap? Could be a nice Bench Sap for a 3 man rotation of the future, but I would prefer a PG or SF first.
Mason Plumlee http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/45913/mason-plumlee He seems to play well on both ends of the court and would make a great backup to Favors and Kanter in the future. I do feel that we need to grab a PG and SF first but if you want the big 3 of the future, he is worth a look.
Kelly Olynyk http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/46207/kelly-olynyk Look where his team is right now. He is not my favorite, but you cant but help look at him.
Myck Kabongo http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/57407/myck-kabongo This player will be available if he turns out for the draft. We would likely trade down to grab him, but I think he will make a solid all around PG in the NBA in time.
Nate Wolters http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/46740/nate-wolters He has ideal size and game for the nba. He may be the steal of the draft being placed where he is currently at. I guess we will see in a few years.
Mike Muscala http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/46309/mike-muscala I am not sure why he ranks so low, but the combine may be what shows some of his weakness. I like his all around game and he could be another steal if he stays in the second round.
Robert Covington http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/47005/robert-covington Plays both ends of the floor, so he is well worth looking at.
Guys I want to like but there is something missing:
CJ McCollum http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/46502/c.j.-mccollum Loving the scoring, but where are the assists?
Doug McDermott http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/51586/doug-mcdermott Shoots lights out, but where’s the defense?
Tony Mitchell http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/56567/tony-mitchell Percentages are heading the wrong way,
Erick Green http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/45918/erick-green Again, where are the assists?
Deshaun Thomas http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/51406/deshaun-thomas Where is the defense?
Isaiah Cannon http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/45836/isaiah-canaan Another where are the assists?
I guess we should look at some free agents next: Remember when we are looking here, we are going to need to pony up some money to get us to the minimum NBA Salary. I am looking a little more at team needs here, as you dont pick best available to target in free agency.
PG’s
Chris Paul http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2779/chris-paul I know you say there’s no chance, but if you dont try you’ve already lost.
Brandon Jennings http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3997/brandon-jennings He is still young with much potential. He has much to learn, but for the right price you have to take him.
Jeff Teague http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/4015/jeff-teague another young PG you have to look at. Who else are you looking at if you dont talk to these 3, Watson?
SF’s
DeMarre Carroll http://www.nba.com/playerfile/demarre_carroll/ There is not much available in this group. His stats wont impress you, but for a backup, you can count him nightly for all the little things..
Tobias Harris http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6440/tobias-harris If you can get them to drop his team option and get him to sign with us. I told you to watch this kid when he was drafted. Give him another year and you will know what I meant. He snuck into the league and was sitting behind other talent. Look at his recent growth.
PF/C
Paul Millsap http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3015/paul-millsap An All Star no. A solid starter, I say yes. He gives it to you every night. He makes his team mates better. This is not a guy you build your team around, he is the guy who supports that guy.. With only 3 bigs on the roster, for the right price, there are enough minutes to go around to warrant keeping him.
JJ Hickson http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3437/jj-hickson I doubt you can pull him away, but another solid 3rd big.
David West “Rental” http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2177/david-west An aging veteran who could be happy coming off the bench, or at least limited minutes, and possibly teach our young bigs a few more tricks.
So, who are you watching? I picked my players to watch because of their all around games. Are their player who could have better upsides, of course, but thats why I listed them as guys I want to like instead of guys I liked. I didnt talk about a couple players just because I dont feel they fit the mold we need. I could be wrong, but thats why its open for you to put in your two cents below. Have fun, stay positive, and keep an open mind.
Replies: 16
Views: 429
16 Responses
I love this, nice job yet again Patrick. I think I would have added Marcus Smart to this list, but other than that I agree completely from Burke to Hickson.
Some people thin Smart could go #1, or in top three..
I like Smart, but I put Burke in front of him. Smart has the size, but his assists are down, and his 3pt% is lower than I’d like. I guess I could have put him in there, but as high as he is going, I dont think we will have a chance, and like I said I prefer Burke. If I had the third pick I would take Otto, and then burk with the other pick if possible.
Jazz might find Burke at #14 because he is smaller. Fine by me. He would fit right in Jazz.
I hear a lot about trading up, who’s on your radar if your going to trade up? I like Otto Porter. Then Trey Burke. Mason Plumblee would be hard to pass on if the first two are gone. Myck Kabongo follows them. Wolters, Muscula, Covington. There are others that are ok, but who’s on your lists? If your going to trade up, then who for?
I don’t know, but I think that it will be hard to trade up very far. I really like Burke and think that he’s attainable with luck. Next we could use a SF (James McAdoo) or back-up 4 or 5 ala Olynyck. PG is our biggest priority.
As you know I’m high on Burke. If the stars perfectly align for us and we are able to take him, I would then pick whoever is available between Alex Poythress (PF) 6′8″ / 240 from Kentucky (projected 18), Tony Mitchell (PF) 6′8″ / 235 from N Texas (projected 23) or Patric Young (PF) 6′8″ / 250 from Florida (projected 37). Any of these 3 guys would be a sweet option to backup Favors assuming Millsap is traded. Poythress attacks the rim and has a soft rainbow jumper (similar to Malone and Boozer), Mitchell averages 3 blks, is a good defender and rebounds on both ends of the court. He is also a good spot up shooter. (YouTube Tony Mitchell ball is life). He is a mix between Favors and Evans. Kinda like Paul George on steroids! Young is a beast around the rim who specializes in dunking, rebounding and blocking shots. I would then look to add more depth at PG by picking up Ray McCallum (projected 44). He has been compared to Mo Williams.
Ideally we draft Trey Burke (PG), Tony Mitchell (PF), and Ray McCallum (PG) to fill needed positions assuming we didn’t move up or down in the draft via trades.
Burke is great on offense, but like most college kids, his D will need some work. If we draft him, he’ll have to learn quick in that area to help us with much needed help on perimeter D.
If things went as they are today, we would likely end up with Burke PG, Doug McDermott SF, and Kenny Kadji PF/C.
Id like to get Porter, but wont happen unless the balls bounce the right way.
Burke and Plumblee wouldnt be bad.
After the lottery its a lot of hit and miss anyhow, so trading down with the Cavs for an extra pick might be worth the risk. If they wanted the GSW pick at around 17 or 18 and took our second round in return, we got their 30th, 32nd, and 37th picks, would you do it? I would consider it hard. Nab Wolters PG, Muscula PF/C, and Covington SF. Two would be second rounders, so no guarantee on the money. If they didnt work out, nothing lost.. But all three are Seniors, all 3 have well rounded games, All 3 could contribute almost immediately. If you kept our picks your looking at McDermott or Kabongo and Kadji. I think this two for three would be worth it.
if we’re in need of PG, with the secound round pick, few risk, i will put some money on my fellow Léo Westermann, a 6′7 PG, a real general on the court, very high BBall IQ, probably one of the most mature for his age, 20, he’s not the guy with big stats, but he’s the guy who act like a facilitator for the team and teammates, and this is what a PG should be, a driver……
)……
he played with all the french youth teams, pro since 3 years, choose last year to play for Partizan Belgrad to have experience in Euroleague, at 20 as a PG it’s impressive, proof that he fear nothing, because if you never played a game in ex-yougoslavia, you don’t know what is playing under pressure, (playing your game with fans throwing you coins, cell phone, shoes or everything they have in hand, and no i’m not kidding
and like i said, 2 round, no risk
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Leo-Westermann-6149/
French, I have to look now. You opened our eyes to Kanter a short time ago. Most would agree with that pick. But if we are going to do that, why not move Hayward to the point? He is a facilitator right?
I have always seen Hayward as our new AK, he have the talent to drive the team from time to time, but he’s a shooter too, and when the instinct come back, you need a real PG……..
I looked at him in the profile. No problem with court vision that is for sure. And having several ball handelers would never be a problem. Will he be in the draft this year??
i saw him in some mock draft, he was suppose to be in the class ‘12, but decided to wait……. so this year….. or the next, don’t know for sure, depends on his contacts with different teams………… another FrenchMan to watch, Mouhammadou Jaiteh, scouts are very high on him, 18, 6′10 231 lbs, future star
Jaiteh play in second division in france, and one time, there was 21 NBA scouts at the game for him
that night he hit 31pts and 17 rbds…… scouts were satisfied