Why do the Jazz work out players they have no chance of drafting?

[JFFR]

Most of the players that have been through the Jazz's workouts won't even make it to the NBA. I don't understand the reasoning behind this. Has anyone from organization offered a good reason for this?

Last year I bought into it. I thought maybe the Jazz would find the next Wesley Matthews or something. But then when it came to signing 10-day contracts they just picked people from the D-League. If they are going to just pick up D-League All-Stars, what is the point of all these workouts?

 

[colton]

Most of the players that have been through the Jazz's workouts won't even make it to the NBA. I don't understand the reasoning behind this. Has anyone from organization offered a good reason for this?

Last year I bought into it. I thought maybe the Jazz would find the next Wesley Matthews or something. But then when it came to signing 10-day contracts they just picked people from the D-League. If they are going to just pick up D-League All-Stars, what is the point of all these workouts?

That's part of it--they need to get players for their D-League team.

 

[Coach Ellis]

I think part of it is gamesmanship too. Picking at #3, it's pretty easy to figure out your options. At #12 or #21, it's more complicated. The Jazz have done an excellent job of looking at guys who aren't in their "draft range" and making good moves as a result of that.

Gobert, Hood and Lyles all worked out for Utah. Nobody really knew that they were going to be the picks at #27, #23 and #12 - but they've all outplayed their draft position.

I think the way Utah does their workouts, it gives them a chance to look at almost every player they're interested in, while obscuring their interest and scouring the dregs to see if there's and diamonds in the rough that will make a good pickup at some point.

 

[kabenac]

DL doesn't like his wife and he needs every excuse to spend more time at the Jazz facility.

 

[Stoked]

D-League, trade scenarios, misdirection and being thorough.

 

[JFFR]

I think part of it is gamesmanship too. Picking at #3, it's pretty easy to figure out your options. At #12 or #21, it's more complicated. The Jazz have done an excellent job of looking at guys who aren't in their "draft range" and making good moves as a result of that.

Gobert, Hood and Lyles all worked out for Utah. Nobody really knew that they were going to be the picks at #27, #23 and #12 - but they've all outplayed their draft position.

I think the way Utah does their workouts, it gives them a chance to look at almost every player they're interested in, while obscuring their interest and scouring the dregs to see if there's and diamonds in the rough that will make a good pickup at some point.

Good response, but why are they working out so many guys that are in the range of 70+?

As for their DLeague team... they just need to sign Jimmer Fredette or David Stockton and they'll be able to sell enough tickets. I'd go to games if either of those two were on the team.

 

[Coach Ellis]

Good response, but why are they working out so many guys that are in the range of 70+?

As for their DLeague team... they just need to sign Jimmer Fredette or David Stockton and they'll be able to sell enough tickets. I'd go to games if either of those two were on the team.

I think that they look at those guys in case one has a shot at being Wes Matthews or Jeremy Lin. Neither guy was on the radar to be drafted, but certainly can play at the NBA level.

 

[Stoked]

Good response, but why are they working out so many guys that are in the range of 70+?

As for their DLeague team... they just need to sign Jimmer Fredette or David Stockton and they'll be able to sell enough tickets. I'd go to games if either of those two were on the team.

It's not about selling tickets to D-League. Utah farms the hell out of it as a way to try and supplement the draft to offset not being a big FA destination.

 

[Jazz4ever]

Good response, but why are they working out so many guys that are in the range of 70+?

As for their DLeague team... they just need to sign Jimmer Fredette or David Stockton and they'll be able to sell enough tickets. I'd go to games if either of those two were on the team.

They need bodies to conduct the practices right?

 

[JFFR]

It's not about selling tickets to D-League. Utah farms the hell out of it as a way to try and supplement the draft to offset not being a big FA destination.

That's the thing. Most of the guys they call up for 10 day contracts come from other teams in the D-League.

 

[mellow]

Did you know that some Euro coach guy was helping the Jazz do workouts this years. That's really nice of the Jazz to pay him to come over and work for them for a couple of weeks. Strange, that they couldn't find a basketball coach closer to home though. I guess like all these draft prospects that Lindsey just likes to spend the Miller's money with no return. Or is there a return?

 

[LoPo]

In addition to looking for the diamond in the rough, it's all about statistical data. I bet that the team designs a rubric to rate the players off of. Then they apply that rubric to every workout invitee. Over time, they workout tons of guys and they track their development, career accomplishments, and milestones. If their rubric is helpful in correctly identifying the draft value or free agency value of players, then the rubric has value. If Jazz personnel rates a bunch of guys low on their rubric but those guys move on to big things, they have to re-assess their rating mechanisms. Sometimes you have to bring in an undraftable guy to make sure your rating system still spits out that he's an undraftable guy.

 

[Boris]

Most of the players that have been through the Jazz's workouts won't even make it to the NBA. I don't understand the reasoning behind this. Has anyone from organization offered a good reason for this?

Last year I bought into it. I thought maybe the Jazz would find the next Wesley Matthews or something. But then when it came to signing 10-day contracts they just picked people from the D-League. If they are going to just pick up D-League All-Stars, what is the point of all these workouts?

Jazz Cannot draft a late round player? Ok.

 

[enchilada_style]

I forgot what this thread was about.

 

[Coach Ellis]

Boris helped to remind us.

Why do the Jazz work out so many. . . work out. . . goodness those girls must work out.

 

[green]

ASSett accumulation.

 

[Stoked]

That's the thing. Most of the guys they call up for 10 day contracts come from other teams in the D-League.

So? That only further reinforces my point. The Jazz are endlessly sifting through the D-League looking for the next Matthews, Jeffers, Millsap... anyone that can help them.

It is one area that I give DL high marks on.

 

[Stoked]

Did you know that some Euro coach guy was helping the Jazz do workouts this years. That's really nice of the Jazz to pay him to come over and work for them for a couple of weeks. Strange, that they couldn't find a basketball coach closer to home though. I guess like all these draft prospects that Lindsey just likes to spend the Miller's money with no return. Or is there a return?

It establishes connections to over seas teams. That can lead to a deeper coach pool in the future and info on players to keep an eye on.

Love the work DL is doing. How he uses the D-League, returning the Jazz SL, putting the Jazz in the Vegas SL, expanding analytics, scouts and over seas connections and his drafts.

Now if he could just figure out that whole trade thing. That or bring in a deal maker and he only has to sign off...something.

 

[Coach Ellis]

It establishes connections to over seas teams. That can lead to a deeper coach pool in the future and info on players to keep an eye on.

Love the work DL is doing. How he uses the D-League, returning the Jazz SL, putting the Jazz in the Vegas SL, expanding analytics, scouts and over seas connections and his drafts.

Now if he could just figure out that whole trade thing. That or bring in a deal maker and he only has to sign off...something.

I think that the plan was alway to develop players, see what they have and make their big move in 2017. Cap space, draft picks and good contracts. Jazz have assets (good not great) to make a move this year or next. Hopefully they do exactly that. I like the idea of top down improvement, but it's certainly a challenge with so many teams having excessive cap space. We'll see what the Jazz do with their space and assets.

I agree that DL has done a lot of good things that aren't necessarily easily recognized, but the one area that I'd really look to be innovative is in a one-to-one partnership with a mid-level Euro team. Jazz provide coaching staff and training resources. The Euro team works to acquire as many draft and stash young prospects as they can afford to. Use it as a feeder team to build players up for possible NBA play. With how the D-League is now being utilized, I see this as a natural extension of that.

 

[The Jazz Wonderbra]

The rubric theory matches with my understanding. It appears the jazz collect a data pool of players who played against players that we are interested in. They can then compare 2014 with 2016, etc based on the data collected which allows them to gauge prospects better. DL has been amazing at drafting so whatever he is doing, why would you complain?

And whatever those two girls are doing is no reason to complain either. Did DL work them out too? In the name of the draft, I concur with DL's methods.