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Following potential 2015 draftees

That's what I've been thinking, too. Not many guys in our range that would make me mad.

Man, I thought I was the king of wishy-washy. But it is indeed hard to choose favorites this year. Once DL starts talking, I'll probably be talked into anyone.

I think the only thing that will bring disappointment (aside from someone out of our seeming tier, like Wood or McCullough) is someone without skill specialty or positional flexibility. Since we may be picking a bench player (even in the long term), positional flexibility will help them see more time if they do turn out to be good. So, laying aside comments about most of their offensive or defensive competence, here's what I'm thinking, in no particular order:

Kaminsky -- provides needed passing/shooting skills and position -- maybe positional flexibility
Dekker -- positional flexibility -- good size
Johnson -- after measurements running dangerously close to non-positional flexibility, but I'd still be happy, as he's been seen to be a tier above
Looney -- moderate positional flexibility, good prospects for 3-point potential
Lyles -- seemingly no positional flexibility, I'm not high on him developing 3-point threat
Booker -- little positional flexibility, but fills a big-time skill need
Grant -- not enough positional flexibility, not sold on shooting
Portis -- somewhat low positional flexibility, perhaps develops a 3-pointer
Payne -- no positional flexibility, may be a bit of a shooter
Turner -- perhaps a bit of positional flexibility, only shot-blocker of the bunch, decent prospects of developing a 3-pointer
Oubre -- positional flexibility (though not sure that his skill set is particularly needed by Jazz unless you're sold he becomes a lock-down defender), likely ends up as decent shooter
 
I'd be meh with Dekker and Looney, but maybe they're just unexciting players. They're actually both the kind of hybrid forwards that could give the Jazz a different dimension.

If the Jazz come out of this draft with Porzingis or Hezonja, I'll be ecstatic. If they come out of it with Oubre or Johnson, I'll be happy. If they come away with Turner, Portis or Kaminsky, I'll be cautiously optimistic.

I think Booker is a nice combination of shooting and IQ. He'd thrive in a Spurs-like system moving the ball and hitting open looks. I just see redundancy with Hood.
 
Will Kanter echo in the background in this year's selection? Will they have learned not to make the same mistake and select a player that is primarily an offensive player that can't also carry their role on the defensive side of the court?

We have such a good thing going now on chemistry. It is tempting to draft players that can hit the 3 but we need to make sure that we draft a player that when their shot isn't falling, they can still contribute on the floor by rebounding and playing defense. That is what I like about the potential on Exum if he can get his offensive game together. Damian Lillard had some issues this year when he wasn't scoring, he had a hard time contributing towards wins.

Players that I am not sure on... Devin Booker defensive intensity... But if we can get another Klay Thompson comparison, we gotta go for him.

Just sayin...
 
Will Kanter echo in the background in this year's selection? Will they have learned not to make the same mistake and select a player that is primarily an offensive player that can't also carry their role on the defensive side of the court?

I got into this with stifle yesterday, and I gotta say I think people are getting way too caught up in this defensive identity stuff. Kanter plays a position where you absolutely need defensive ability, or it kills you. With Gobert/Favors as our defensive foundation, comparing Kanter to our perimeter players just makes no sense. We already have a solid defensive foundation to build on, but with Rudy and Exum both being limited offensively, and with the spacing issues we get with Gobert/Favors, we don't need more defensive specialists who are limited offensively. We need shooting to space the floor. Ideally, it would be nice to find a guy who is good on both ends, but if we can't find that guy, we should be targeting someone who can shoot the ball, even if he's only an average defender, as opposed to a good defender/average offensive player.
 
Just to mess with Catchall a bit (you're one of my favorite posters, btw), how's this argument for not drafting Kelly Oubre?:

The hope on Oubre is that he can turn into something of a Paul George -- that getting into the pros can unlock his top-5-type potential/skills and get him past the inconsistency/floating he tended to do in college.

Who's the best person to recognize the second coming of Paul George? The man who drafted him, Larry Bird.

Could a team whose best options now at SG are Rodney Stuckey and CJ Miles use the SG version of Paul George? Of course.

Who is picking right before the Jazz? Larry Bird's team, the one with Rodney Stuckey and CJ miles at SG.

What will it mean if that team doesn't pick Kelly Oubre? Larry Bird doesn't have much faith that Oubre is the next Paul George or will reach his top-5 potential, and neither should we.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4ToJircIXU

he has to be the choice. I love Hood, and Burks but both proved to be a health risks last year. We can park Booker on the bench, and bring him along slowly. You can NEVER can enough shooters off the bench. We still have a need for him. If you watched Booker play last year you noticed how hard he played, and how much passion has for the game. He seems like a hard worker, and a good guy. In this video he says he wants to become an elite defender. I believe hes going to work hard at becoming one. A two way player as he says.
 
I would love Booker on the Jazz. His measurements were better than expected and his speed is elite. Jazz need scorers off the bench, he has proven he can play that role. If he is there I hope the Jazz grab him. I am worried that Indiana might grab him. People talk like there isn't a spot for him but Hood can play the SF position and Booker can play the SG off the bench. This kid is only eighteen so he has some growth left in him. Sounds smart and humble with a desire to be better. I would be excited if he is the Jazz choice.
 
I don't know specifics about Robert Upshaw, just that he's viewed as a major headcase around the league. How much will the recent breakdown of Larry Sanders influence decision makers in how they view him?
 
I would love Booker on the Jazz. His measurements were better than expected and his speed is elite. Jazz need scorers off the bench, he has proven he can play that role. If he is there I hope the Jazz grab him. I am worried that Indiana might grab him. People talk like there isn't a spot for him but Hood can play the SF position and Booker can play the SG off the bench. This kid is only eighteen so he has some growth left in him. Sounds smart and humble with a desire to be better. I would be excited if he is the Jazz choice.
One of the things I liked best about Booker last year is his attitude. A perfect mix of humility/do whatever the coach asks/never sulks/never bad body language/never flinches at coach being in his face... while at the same time he has a killer instinct. He has an inner assassin. he has a Thompson/Curry feel to his 'tude.
 
I said this all year.

He's not crazy athletic, but has supreme IQ and reads the defense. Sees the gaps and gets himself open with a quick high release. Finishes extremely well in the break/at the rim. Decent enough defender and won't be a liability there (may take a couple years).
I think that high IQ players will thrive in Quin's system. Those that don't look out of place and hold everyone else back.

For instance Kanter didn't have a very high BBIQ (despite all of my prayers otherwise), Trey seems to struggle with different ways to play and Burks never seemed to shine in this system.

To me Booker is a near perfect pick. High IQ, above average (hopefully elite) shooting and he's not a liability defensively. What more do you want from a 12th pick?
 
Just watched that interview with Booker. Klay has always been my comp for him. Nice to hear him say, on camera, that he patterns his game after him.
 
I think that high IQ players will thrive in Quin's system. Those that don't look out of place and hold everyone else back.

For instance Kanter didn't have a very high BBIQ (despite all of my prayers otherwise), Trey seems to struggle with different ways to play and Burks never seemed to shine in this system.

To me Booker is a near perfect pick. High IQ, above average (hopefully elite) shooting and he's not a liability defensively. What more do you want from a 12th pick?

Big boobs? nah.
 
I'd be meh with Dekker and Looney, but maybe they're just unexciting players. They're actually both the kind of hybrid forwards that could give the Jazz a different dimension.

If the Jazz come out of this draft with Porzingis or Hezonja, I'll be ecstatic. If they come out of it with Oubre or Johnson, I'll be happy. If they come away with Turner, Portis or Kaminsky, I'll be cautiously optimistic.

I think Booker is a nice combination of shooting and IQ. He'd thrive in a Spurs-like system moving the ball and hitting open looks. I just see redundancy with Hood.
You can never have enough shooting.
 
Not to nitpick, but yes you can.. Never too much shooting yeah, but there is a point you have enough.

Also, making is way better than just shooting.
/CJ
So say you're right, that you CAN have too much shooting (I disagree, btw).

The Jazz are not even close to be worried about that right now.
 
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Just to mess with Catchall a bit (you're one of my favorite posters, btw), how's this argument for not drafting Kelly Oubre?:

The hope on Oubre is that he can turn into something of a Paul George -- that getting into the pros can unlock his top-5-type potential/skills and get him past the inconsistency/floating he tended to do in college.

Who's the best person to recognize the second coming of Paul George? The man who drafted him, Larry Bird.

Could a team whose best options now at SG are Rodney Stuckey and CJ Miles use the SG version of Paul George? Of course.

Who is picking right before the Jazz? Larry Bird's team, the one with Rodney Stuckey and CJ miles at SG.

What will it mean if that team doesn't pick Kelly Oubre? Larry Bird doesn't have much faith that Oubre is the next Paul George or will reach his top-5 potential, and neither should we.

I can see some of this logic. I also think there is a real possibility that Oubre is gone before 12, whether it's Indiana or someone earlier. Indiana has other issues too though, and from what I gather they would like to draft a big. They're not sold on Hibbert and David West may be a free agent. They also want a PG.

Jazz will do their own scouting. I don't think Oubre is one of their top targets, but I would have no hesitation taking him at 12. He'll bring defense and rebounding to the wing position while holding his own offensively.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4ToJircIXU

he has to be the choice. I love Hood, and Burks but both proved to be a health risks last year. We can park Booker on the bench, and bring him along slowly. You can NEVER can enough shooters off the bench. We still have a need for him. If you watched Booker play last year you noticed how hard he played, and how much passion has for the game. He seems like a hard worker, and a good guy. In this video he says he wants to become an elite defender. I believe hes going to work hard at becoming one. A two way player as he says.

I'll be happy with just about anyone, but realistically him, Kaminsky, and Johnson if he falls are my top 3. Obure is in this range too.
 
I'll be happy with just about anyone, but realistically him, Kaminsky, and Johnson if he falls are my top 3. Obure is in this range too.

Kaminsky wouldnt be a bad choice. With Tomic staying in Europe we could use more offense from our big men. He would be a solid back up off the bench.
 
Good list. Wish that NBA teams would follow your lead and put Upshaw into the top 10 and have someone like Johnson slip down to us.

They scurred to do so, and it will come back to bite them in the form of blocked shots and rebounds lost. A classic case of paralysis by analysis. He's a one man wrecking crew. An All-star talent heading into a field of mostly mediocre NBA centers (many of whom aren't even true C's).

IMO - Upshaw's game translates to the league quickly. he hits on too many criteria for me to rank him outside the top-10 (hands, size, length, mobility, anticipation, instincts, aggression, coordination and functional strength).. To project him at the bottom of the 1st and then say he's got lottery talent makes me think "what exactly is being evaluated here?" Seems lazy, and leaves too much room for error for my tastes, considering his production, size and position.

I always thought Rudy would've been a good pick at #14 in '13, I feel similarly about Upshaw's prospects this year, both displayed insane flashes of untapped potential in their 20's.

I wouldn't take Rob's FT shooting too seriously, he's not hopeless. The form he was using will be totally re-worked wherever he goes, hopefully its already scrapped. He had all sorts of unsuccint movements in the lower half, as he was aiming or launching the ball to the rim. If you see the latest DX vid, it disproves the notion that hes got no range outside of the paint, It's fairly peculiar footage from someone that size IMO...

Larry Sanders; the person, the artist, the writer, the painter, the musician, the father, didnt love the game and he made that clear in his letter.

I cant say for sure; but I've done my due diligence and Robert doesn't come across like Sanders at-all.. For lack of a better word he's more simple, He comes across like a confident kid who wants to prove himself. I really dont think he's a bad guy tbh, he didn't understand the gravity of the situation at hand which is certainly odd given the circumstances. To me the positives outweigh the negative in such a landslide that I wouldn't even characterize his issues as red-flag worthy.
 
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