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“Earning Their Minutes” & How It Make Affect The Jazz’s Draft Decision
Posted by: Steven on April 12th, 2012
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.One thing we have to remember about this draft (if we get any picks this year with GSW losing frequently and this current Jazz team content to aim for the playoffs), if the Jazz do get some picks we cannot expect that the Jazz will give those player(s) any more playing time next season that Burks or Kanter have gotten this year.
Some franchises give their rookie players big minutes from the outset, others only do so when they are tanking, but that has never been the Jazz way. The Jazz prefer to draft someone and slowly integrate them into the team and system. Its either a deliberate system of “earning their minutes” or a patient approach to training and coaching the young player into the Jazz way of playing but whatever it is whoever is drafted on draft night will not have a big impact on next years team.
We cannot therefore expect any player drafted to impact results significantly next season. They will contribute but only when deemed ready. It does not matter how talented that player will be, or how high the hopes are for a player’s potential they will be brought along slowly. Just as Favors has been, the same with Burks and Kanter, and DWill before them.
At first when I started looking at this years draft class and what the Jazz might decide to take if they they were lucky enough to have two picks in the lottery I was thinking the most obvious need would be a SF and PG. But then last night I thought a little more on how this franchise likes to integrate its rookie players into the Jazz system and I had to think again how that might alter their thinking. If the PG’s in this draft were really good I think they would still choose one to develop over time. However I think this year is particularly loaded with many PG’s to choose from and those that are there are perhaps too one dimensional for the Jazz liking. Lillard seems to be a scoring type of PG who may not fit into the typical Jazz PG model, and Marshall might not be athletic enough. SF is an area that needs to be addressed immediately in the summer with someone who is ready to play and I doubt the Jazz management are going to trust a rookie for that. Especially as there isn’t that many SF’s in this draft where the Jazz are going to be placed in the lottery with a more than one dimensional skillset or have few questions regarding their mentality. There are a lot of Bigs and SGs in this draft which at first glance isn’t what the Jazz would need at this time but then if you start thinking what the Jazz might need not for next season, but the season after that when the player would expect to see more playing time in a Jazz uniform then it starts to make a bit more sense that the Jazz might just decide to go down this route when taking the best player available.
My feeling is this that 4 into 2 does not go, so the Jazz could sound out other teams around the league to see what they may acquire for one our veteran Bigs and the Trade Exception acquired from Okur. If they find a deal to their liking which addresses either the SF or PG position or even both they might just pull the trigger. If for arguments sake Jefferson is the one that is moved on, his hefty contract and the $10million trade exception could get both a SF and PG. That would also have the added benefit of giving Favors more playing time, and Kanter too. It might also make sense for the Jazz to decide to draft another big if that is the best of what’s available. Hang on you say, didn’t you just say that 4 into 2 doesn’t go? Yes I did. But any summer draft pick will not be expected to get big minutes right away, just like Favors and Kanter haven’t. However in such a scenario if it arose those two players are getting promoted with more playing but they won’t be expected to be quite ready yet to carry the burden like Jefferson and Millsap have been expected to this year. Those two players will still be young and learning their craft. So a situation where you have a rookie big, another big with one years experience in Kanter, and a 2 year pro in Favors with either Jefferson or Millsap to compliment them as they grow might just spread the minutes more evenly than a Millsap/Jefferson, Favors/Kanter foursome.
A second draft pick used on SG might not be the obvious choice with Hayward and Burks capable of playing in that position. But Hayward can play either the 3 or the 2, and Burks is naturally a SG just now, but depending on how the Jazz see him developing he might be expected to play PG in future.
So with this reminder on how the Jazz likes to slowly bring along their rookie players does this alter your thinking on who the Jazz might draft. Would you still draft based on today’s need or would you draft on best player available? And what would your choice be if you had 1 pick or two?
Replies: 12
Views: 427
12 Responses
What if we trade both our picks to move up and get a SF? Any teams take that bait? Then we can dump Miles, Howards been hurt too much to really be effective. deal with Gordo sharing 2 and 3 and give the 2 to Burks to share.
I think that we should probably try a new system, honestly I see that the jazz have had success, but they’ve never had championship success, and i feel that if we could get these talented rookies playing a lot of minutes, they would gain experience quicker, and be able to perform at a contender level much quicker, and if they are getting more minutes, and actually progressing in talent-level, then we might actually be able to keep some of these players. Honestly, my first hope is that the Jazz make the playoffs, but even if they don’t, I would love to find some way to shoot up in the draft, and get a guy who is expected to perform right away, forcing the team to actually play him. If we can get a guy who is going to demand minutes immediately, then we can have him, Hayward, Favors, Burks, and Kanter mesh, and become a dangerous lineup, who, in a few years nobody will want to play in a playoff series, now I don’t know if this draft has anybody like that, and I don’t know if any teams have a young guy who they would actually consider giving us. I think ultimately, the future of our franchise only has a championship in it if we buy in to a system that focuses on developing youngs, even if that means having a bad year or two, but hey that just my opinion.
We won for so many years, we rarely had lottery picks until recent. These type players don’t need as much time to develop!
I previously suggested that if the Jazz don’t get any draft picks this year, it may not be a bad thing. It’ll give the young players more opportunities to play and to gel.
Hope the Jazz can keep Tinsley as he’s a good facilitator and mentor for the young players. Millsap, Jefferson, and Harris will continue to provide some degree of stability while the young players continue to develop.
Yes, there’s still a need for a strong SF if Josh Howard is out. And the Jazz may even sign CJ just because he’s affordable.
Bottom line—there’s decent core to build on. Perhaps, in upcoming drafts, there’ll be a major player who will coalesce and be the final piece to a potential championship team.
Very interesting article, Steven. It’s good to see someone thinking outside of the box and talking about something other than Marhsall/Lillard.
You’re still dead wrong about CJ Miles though
You raise an in interesting point; that we need a Small Forward and Point Guard immediately, and it would take at least a couple of seasons for anyone we drafted to become an impact player.
Here’s the big thing to remember about this draft: If this season is any indication, the Jazz are not going to be in the lottery for a LONG TIME.
So this draft is extremely important for the Jazz. Whoever KOC drafts is going to be for the long term. So, he could very well end up drafting another Big. KOC’s mantra is: “If theres a talented big man, you take him, regardless of need.”
I’m not sold on that philosophy, though. Look what happened with Portland (Oden over Durant).
Also, I’m very high on Demarre Carroll. I think Carrol is a legitimate NBA player, and would like for us to sign him for next season IMMEDIATELY. I think after a full offseason and training camp with the Jazz Carroll is going to be phenomenal.
I’m not going to make a definitive claim right now, but at the end of the season I think we’ll have a pretty good idea about the potential of Carroll. If he continues playing like he has been, we have a bona fide Small Forward for the future.
Here’s to hoping…
Makes you wonder why Denver cut Carroll.. KOC snatched him up fast. Real GM has him signed through next year..
LK I think Denver cut him because they had a number of players they could rely on and didn’t see him being a high contributor. I don’t see him in the long term putting the numbers on the scoreboard that he has been putting up lately on a consistent basis. But I do like his hustle, I think thats where his value lies. He can help others be better on the floor by them feeding off the scraps he provides.
Nick I think the urgency to get a talented big man in through this draft is not what it was in seasons past. However I do think that if the Jazz are looking to move either Al or Paul on in the off season and it just so happens they feel that a Big happens to be the best player available when they get to choose their pick then that might be the direction they decide to go down. I still think they might prefer another SF, SG or PG to address other areas of the team but it depends on who is available at the time and how they think they can mold them long term based on their personality. If what remains in those positions is questionable and a Big is less so then that’s what they will go for.
Ray I agree, I think if the Jazz are capable of getting to playoffs now, I wouldn’t be too disappointed losing out on a draft this year if we were to get GSW pick next season. I think we have enough young players showing promise just now and with the right veterans around them could be really good. I also think a lot of better players in this draft don’t really address a need at this time and although it was hyped up to be a better draft than last year many of them have a one dimensional skillset. I think we need a rounded player to compliment the guys already here. The last thing we need is another Bell who might be good at defense but has no offensive threat.
Ryan I don’t see the Jazz trying a new system. Its not a franchise that likes to develop at the expense of losing. Either its in the business plan that the playoffs help support the team’s budget or its part of giving back to the fans for the support throughout the year but the playoffs is always the minimum target. I also think that youth and potential is no guarantee that good results are around the corner.
Matt I’m not convinced they will get the chance to trade up with two picks into one. The Warriors in my book look likely to keep their pick.
I think with a full off season Carrol would be better then he is now. I also think maybe we try to get a 7 footer? I mean I know we got big men but if we got Leonard or Zeller we would have some strong defense in the middle with a 7 footer and Favors. And some people say Kanter is a 4. I think he is a 4/5 so he could play both. But we are going to have to play Bynum for a while and maybe we need a bigger body??
Remember Ante Tomic? wasn’t it being talked about 2012 as the year he would come over and play… we still have the rights to him, and watching him on youtube, he seemed like a pretty good big guy, you can’t teach 7′1 and if i remember he looked like pau gasol’s replica.
Is there any news on him…
What the Jazz need is their own system of play, something unique to them! It’s hard to describe, but there needs to be something we focus on and surround our team with. Whether it’s a player, or a part of defense or offense, something that we focus on and becomes our strong point. It used to be the pick and role with Stockton and Malone with our wing guys knocking down shots. Either we bring that back or try something new, we need our own identity again. Miami has it, Dallas does, Oklahoma City, Chicago, Lakers, Clippers, etc. We need something our own to master and kick butt with!!!
@steve he is never coming over to the NBA
this years draft picks sit behind players who are starters. If Burks or Kanter was a SF or a PG, I bet they would have gotten many more minutes. But Burks plays behind Hayward, and Kanter behind Al, and even Favors.
Can you say that either or even Favors took a starting role from anyone? Teams playing rookies long stretches, is because there was no one in front of them. Sad thing is, there are slim chances to get a PG or SF in this draft, so your probably right, no one we draft will get big minutes.