Meet
Playoffs or Pick?
Posted by: Jazzaholic on April 5th, 2012
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.It has been an up and down season, which is probably better than most expected. SI and ESPN predicted a last place finish. So, “up and down” or about .500 basketball is what the Jazz have produced so far. The games have been meaningful. The playoffs have been within grasp. The kids have gotten some good experience, perhaps not enough, but they are developing nicely.
In the West .500 ball probably won’t get you into the playoffs.
I asked Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld, who is one of the best analysts around.
Which would be better for the Jazz in the long run?
1. Miss the playoffs keep their lottery pick.
2. Make the playoffs, lose their pick, and gain playoff experience.
If the Jazz miss the playoffs, which looks more likely than making them at this point, they probably end up around #12 in the draft.
Got any favorites?
Jazzaholic
Here’s a mock draft from NBADraft.net (this assumes the Jazz get GSW pick)
Updated: 4/5/12 7:49 am
| 1 |  |
*Charlotte | Anthony Davis | Fr. |
| 2 |  |
Washington | Thomas Robinson | Jr. |
| 3 |  |
New Orleans | Michael Kidd-Gil… | Fr. |
| 4 |  |
Cleveland | Andre Drummond | Fr. |
| 5 |  |
*Portland | Harrison Barnes | So. |
| 6 |  |
Toronto | Jeremy Lamb | So. |
| 7 |  |
*Sacramento | Bradley Beal | Fr. |
| 8 |  |
Detroit | Arnett Moultrie | Jr. |
| 9 |  |
*Utah | Austin Rivers | Fr. |
| 10 | |
*New Orleans | Damian Lillard | Jr. |
| 11 | |
Portland | Tyler Zeller | Sr. |
| 12 |  |
Milwaukee | Meyers Leonard | So. |
| 13 |  |
Phoenix | Perry Jones | So. |
| 14 | |
*Utah | Kendall Marshall | So. |
Replies: 32
Views: 960
* * * * * 2 Votes
32 Responses
I know were loaded on bigs, but if Jared Sullinger is around, I’d be tempted to take him. You can always make a trade after the fact.
I think Marshall would fit better with the Jazz then Lillard. I also really like Beal’s potential.
I think Davis, Drummond, Robinson, Gilchrist, and Barnes will all be off the board long before we pick.
So I guess my “realistic” favorites would be Sullinger, Beal, and Marshall.
Marshall might not be much of a scorer, but he has Rajon Rondo like passing ability. I think he could make everyone else on the team better.
Lillard reminds me a little of Jimmer. Not really a pure point guard, and a little undersized for the shooting guard. The kid can definitely score though.
I wouldn’t mind picking up either Lillard or Marshall. I do like Lillard, though, I think he translates to the NBA, where Jimmer has struggled to do so.
I’ve been wanting Lillard forever. He has said he wants to play in Utah, he repeatedly talks about his love for living in Utah in interviews, and he’s got a skillset that will help him thrive in the NBA. I think he’s the missing piece as well.
Why go to the playoffs for 5-6 more games to play?? This should be the last season the Jazz are in the lottery. My vote is for Lillard. I do not compare him to Jimmer because he can get to the rim.. GS won last night which helps.
My vote definitely goes to the draft. I the jazz trade Jefferson for another pick, and also free up his salary, my picks would be: 1) Sullinger
2) Perry JonesIII
3) Marshall
If we draft a PF/C it looks like Millsap or Big Al we be traded. Millsap has a good mid range shot and will give Kanter and Favours more game time, plus a good value contract.
The question is who do trade for?
@Jason Sullinger is under sized why do we want an undersized PF when we all ready have one… Plus he is a Tyler Hansbourogh 2.0 good college big man but will struggle with his alligator arms in the NBA.
Jazz will pick the passing PG over the Scoring PG any day of the week. This has happened every time we draft PG so I would say Lillard is probably not going to get drafted.
@Dean Millsap or Jefferson need to go anyway. 10 and 15 mins a night for number 3 overall picks is ridiculous. Specially with the talent they have. I have stated this trade before but we could trade Jefferson to Indiana for Granger and Collison. This frees up space for them to put Paul George at the 3 instead of the two that he is playing right now and go after home town boy Eric Gordon who wants to play for them. Plus they want to re sign George Hill but need to free up minutes for him by getting rid of Collison
My guess is we will get one or the other on the picks. Either ours or GSW’s, not both. My preference would be make the playoffs and get GSW’s pick. But if we get our own instead we may not have a choice between lillard or Marshall, one or both could be gone already.
@jason I think Beal will be a top 5 pick.
Whatever picks we end up with, I hope they can contribute on the defensive end. We have scorers, what we lack is defense. Particularly at the PG position. If Marshall is a great defender then he is a good fit for us, if not let someone else take him. .
IND isn’t going to do that trade.
Trade at draft time could be possible. Millsap has the more friendly contract, but Jefferson would be possible.
You’re right the #3’s need more PT, but it is a nice luxury to have too many big men.
Jazzaholic
I don’t know anything bout Fab Melo, but I assume he’s more fabulous than ‘regular’ Melo.
Jazzaholic
Though the playoff experience would be great for the youngsters, getting pick(s) would probably be more likely at this point in the season.
The Jazz needs a strong PG to integrate with Hayward, Favors, Kanter, and Burks. Potentially the starting lineup in a couple or three years.
That being said, a strong outside shooter would be nice as well. Someone who can consistently hit the 3-ball and play defense.
The underlying principle guiding the drafting and/or trading of players is TEAM OFFENSE and TEAM DEFENSE. Players who will and can play within a system. Each night, different players may shine and everyone is okay with that. Being able to match up with whomever the Jazz will be the overall strategy.
Lets see, Marshall. Hmmm. Above comments he can really pass. He is like Jimmer. He can really score. Are you serious, are you all talking about the same guy?
Marshall is lacking athleticism. Those who think he will be the next Stockton, better go back and look. John was on all NBA defensive team, which takes oodles of athleticism. He can really score, better look at his stats again, 8 ppg this season, 6 ppg last season. He can pass, I dont argue that, but if 5 guys are guarding our four guys because Marshall is not a threat, how many passes do you think he will make? I have to agree with the Jimmer comment, not because he can shoot, but because Jimmer is struggling too find his place too. Bet if you asked who they would take with their pick now, Jimmer is not the guy.
Cant argue with another lengthy PF who can play defense and score though. Cant argue a outside scoring threat either. Guess we will see in a few months how things end up.
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/51383/kendall-marshall
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/kendall-marshall
@Patrick they said the same things about Rubio…
@ Jazzaholic why do you not think Indiana would do that trade?
Good trade for the Jazz!
The trade works with the salaries under the CBA, but Granger and Collison are both part of their long term plans. They have consistently rebuffed any trade proposals for them.
The Pacers are on the edge of moving up to Chicago/Miami level. They are not going to blow up their young talented team.
They would also lose about 10 points and 5 assists/game. (The Jazz gain 10+5)
Jazz say yes, Bird says no.
Jazzaholic
Bracken – I fear you may be right. But, if Beal is still available at 8 or 9 I think the Jazz should swoop him up.
I’d be alright with drafting a big guy as long as we had another pick to use on a PG or shooter, but I do NOT want Sullinger. He’s not a passionate, high-motor big man and I think he’ll be average at best. I don’t want Perry Jones because he’s lazy and unmotivated. I don’t want Rivers because he’s cocky and would demand a big market team. I’m intrigued by Lillard and Marshall and would be very happy getting either, although I think right now I’d take Lillard. I’ve started early on my yearly pre-draft homework and I am excited for the draft, especially if we can land 2 picks.
@Dallan you can’t compare Rubio and Marshall, Rubio was a real scorer in his young years, he’s still young but remember he begin his pro career at 14, in the finale of the U16 in 2006 he scored 51, he finished the U18 tournament in 2007 with 19 ppg, but when he played for Barcelona he just didn’t have to score in regard with the players they had in the roster…….. i’m not sure Marshall can be a scorer if he need to
Millsap and Jefferson both wont be traded it would be too much of a change. Favours should start and is great on D but his shooting is nowhere near as good as Millsap or Jefferson. If both went and werent replaced with scoring PF/C it would completely change how the Jazz play.
If Phoenix finish below the Jazz they will make the choice between Lillard and Marshall if Nash chooses to leave.
……. even if he played well in march month i can admit that, but the rest of his young career…..
Jazz get into the playoffs! Lose the pick!!
@Jazzaholic the reason I suggested it is because they are going to have to resign George Hill and also Hibbert is a free agent and has said he does not want to play in Indiana.. He has told the team he does not want an extension. So that would mean Indiana needs a big man. This is from last year but check it out.. Still makes sense even more so that Paul George is playing as well as he is…
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/741248-nba-draft-trade-rumors-why-the-indiana-pacers-should-deal-danny-granger
I like how we get Austin Rivers AND Kendall Marshall. Win for us! lets hope this happens! Still torn whether to get into the playoffs or these guys.
Making the playoffs is an obvious attraction, but at this point, I’d rather aquire assets than play 4-5 more games against the Thunder when the youngs won’t get much time anyway (look at the recent minutes for Kanter, Burks, Favors).
Whatever happens, the more assets the Jazz can aquire will strengthen then in the long-term and accelerate them through the ‘transitional’ phase. I personally would like to see the Jazz get both picks as this gives KoC more flexibility and more assets to play with around draft night. The way I see it, if the Jazz can get 2 picks and package all the expiring contracts they possess then hopefully we won’t be in the lottery for years to come as we will have acquired all the pieces we need all at once alla Oklahoma.
Don’t give up yet. The Jazz could still make the playoffs, it’s just not within their control. Even if they win, it’s controlled completely by the 3 teams in front of them.
Just playing the odds on getting the pick. It has not been mathematically decided yet.
Rubio is far better than any PG mentioned, despite his double ligament repair.
Jazzaholic
in some mock draft Barnes is falling around 8-10, pinch me, I must be dreaming !! also, Royce White is very intriguing, can be the steal of the draft, very complete, leading his team in all categories, a 6-8 SF with 5 apg in college game, you don’t see that every year……
I would love to see us bring in Perry Jones III, his athleticism is insane and he has been training as a wing player, he is 6′11″ and he can play the 3-4 and even 5 when the other team is going small. I just hope we get the dubs pick but hopefully we beat Golden State tonight!
@French Dude Is Royce White the kid that has some major emotional issues? I think that is him and he could be a MAJOR risk..
It will probably come down to the last game on the GSW pick.
Jazzaholic
@Dallan, there is no pleasure if there is no risk, maybe he’s between a Rodman and a Sheed in his mind, but i don’t think many of the teams that employed them have too much regrets now, genius and crazyness is often close……