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Jazzfanz BIG BOARD rankings ROUND 9

If all of these players were available who would you want The Jazz to pick?

  • Daniel Orton

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Ed Davis

    Votes: 2 4.0%
  • Ekpe Udoh

    Votes: 16 32.0%
  • Gordon Hayward

    Votes: 1 2.0%
  • Hassan Whiteside

    Votes: 10 20.0%
  • Larry Sanders

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Luke Babbit

    Votes: 8 16.0%
  • Patrick Patterson

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Paul George

    Votes: 6 12.0%
  • Xavier Henry

    Votes: 7 14.0%

  • Total voters
    50
kicky's right in that the length of Whiteside has had me trying to ignore the red flags. He's a huge question mark. After going back and forth with a few posters I feel better about Aldrich. I've been convinced that a more accurate projection for Aldrich is Al Horford. And that makes me very happy with the 9th pick.

If Aldrich is gone before then though I think I'd gamble on Whiteside. I think Monroe will just be frustrating and Udoh will be a role player.

I guess the Jazz could draft a wing and grab a big guy in the second round but you're picking between Zoubek, Samhan, and Olbrect at that point - and just hoping they're better than Fes.

I don't know. Hopefully Aldrich will be there. Or the Jazz trade down and grab Whiteside + a nice wing at the end of the first round. Or draft Babbitt/George/Xavier and Pittman in the early second. ...but c'mon, it's a vain hope the Jazz make any moves in the draft. Let's just hope Aldrich is still there at 9.
 
I'm saying Whiteside is a legitimate prospect. His college numbers are strong and in line with other strong prospects in this draft and past drafts. He plays mostly a face-up game and is better suited to a PF than a C. He was even listed as a forward on his college roster, and if you watch his tapes, he plays out on the floor. Hence, his shooting percentage of 52% is fine. He scored off a variety of moves, not just lay ups and dunks. In his workouts he shoots out on the floor and fills the lane at least as well as anyone else and gets much better elevation. He can get his shot off over Udoh anytime he wants. Lots of big players take a while to improve their free throwing shooting--e.g., Malone, Duncan, Kemp, etc. You can see from his tapes and workouts that he can shoot.

I'm not saying Whiteside is the next Olajuwon or Mourning, but I do think he has a straightforward path to becoming the next Andray Blatche or Jermaine O'Neal, which would make him an 18-9-2.5 guy and a top 3 option on a strong playoff team, combined with D. Will and a talented wing.

FYI, Adonal Foyle, whom I watched at Golden State (I live in the Bay Area too), was too slow to guard people away from the hoop, and as you mentioned, he had no offense. He had good numbers in college, but he wasn't playing against serious college programs and going head to head with players like Jerome Jordan or Ed Davis. He was playing against teams like Yale, Princeton and Cornell--probably 6'6" guys who were majoring in math or international relations.

Comparing Whiteside to Saer Sene who never really played anywhere is inappropriate. If Whiteside busts, it will be because of injury problems or lack of work ethic. So far, he has the tools, he is working hard, he added some moves, and he put on 20 lbs. in the last year alone. He seems like he really wants to play.

I question whether Monroe is really that great a prospect. He doesn't have elite athleticism, quickness, or explosiveness. He doesn't run the floor that well, and he doesn't really elevate above the rim. People compare him to Brad Miller because he can pass, but Brad Miller never won anything, never drew a double team, and rarely made a big defensive play. If Monroe works hard and plays to his strengths, he could *maybe* have a career like Zach Randolph, Vin Baker (or Okur)--a player who can put up some numbers, but doesn't have a complete game. Both Zach and Vin also showed much more talent offensively than Monroe. The Jazz's system could make Monroe look pretty good in set plays, but he could be a liability on defense as bad as what we've had with Boozer and Okur. Guys can go by him or over him. He wasn't much of a defensive presence in college either. Hopefully Monroe is gone by the time the Jazz pick, so the issue is moot.

If the Jazz go big, they are probably looking at Cole Aldrich and Hassan Whiteside. Udoh doesn't give us something we don't already have in Millsap and AK. Ed Davis could be in the picture too, but he's a bit undersized.
 
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I'm saying Whiteside is a legitimate prospect. His college numbers are strong and in line with other strong prospects in this draft and past drafts. He plays mostly a face-up game and is better suited to a PF than a C. He was even listed as a forward on his college roster, and if you watch his tapes, he plays out on the floor. Hence, his shooting percentage of 52% is fine. He scored off a variety of moves, not just lay ups and dunks. In his workouts he shoots out on the floor and fills the lane at least as well as anyone else and gets much better elevation. He can get his shot off over Udoh anytime he wants. Lots of big players take a while to improve their free throwing shooting--e.g., Malone, Duncan, Kemp, etc. You can see from his tapes and workouts that he can shoot.

I'm not saying Whiteside is the next Olajuwon or Mourning, but I do think he has a straightforward path to becoming the next Andray Blatche or Jermaine O'Neal, which would make him an 18-9-2.5 guy and a top 3 option on a strong playoff team, combined with D. Will and a talented wing.

FYI, Adonal Foyle, whom I watched at Golden State (I live in the Bay Area too), was too slow to guard people away from the hoop, and as you mentioned, he had no offense. He had good numbers in college, but he wasn't playing against serious college programs and going head to head with players like Jerome Jordan or Ed Davis. He was playing against teams like Yale, Princeton and Cornell--probably 6'6" guys who were majoring in math or international relations.

Comparing Whiteside to Saer Sene who never really played anywhere is inappropriate. If Whiteside busts, it will be because of injury problems or lack of work ethic. So far, he has the tools, he is working hard, he added some moves, and he put on 20 lbs. in the last year alone. He seems like he really wants to play.

I question whether Monroe is really that great a prospect. He doesn't have elite athleticism, quickness, or explosiveness. He doesn't run the floor that well, and he doesn't really elevate above the rim. People compare him to Brad Miller because he can pass, but Brad Miller never won anything, never drew a double team, and rarely made a big defensive play. If Monroe works hard and plays to his strengths, he could *maybe* have a career like Zach Randolph, Vin Baker (or Okur)--a player who can put up some numbers, but doesn't have a complete game. Both Zach and Vin also showed much more talent offensively than Monroe. The Jazz's system could make Monroe look pretty good in set plays, but he could be a liability on defense as bad as what we've had with Boozer and Okur. Guys can go by him or over him. He wasn't much of a defensive presence in college either. Hopefully Monroe is gone by the time the Jazz pick, so the issue is moot.

If the Jazz go big, they are probably looking at Cole Aldrich and Hassan Whiteside. Udoh doesn't give us something we don't already have in Millsap and AK. Ed Davis could be in the picture too, but he's a bit undersized.

I have to say I agree with most of what you're saying.

I dont' want any part of Monroe- Brad Miller disease.

Udoh seems like a small finesse forward that has maxed out his ability.

I would be okay with Aldrich or Henry. But I would prefer taking a chance with Aminu, George or Whiteside.
 
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