"You Gotta Love It Baby" Official Jazz thread

[MarkGrace]

Aldrich's shot is ugly as hell, but it's surprisingly soft with nice touch. I'm sitting here wondering how that's can be the end result with a release so ugly.

I checked his numbers the other day and he hit 45% of his midrange shots over the last two years.

[Surfah]

Aldrich's shot is ugly as hell, but it's surprisingly soft with nice touch. I'm sitting here wondering how that's can be the end result with a release so ugly.

I checked his numbers the other day and he hit 45% of his midrange shots over the last two years.

Aldrich looks like he'll get blocked from behind by some guard a lot.

[MarkGrace]

Aldrich looks like he'll get blocked from behind by some guard a lot.

I agree with DH that his shot is pretty reminiscent of Boozer's, though Booz doesn't bring it back quite so far over his head. And as we know, Boozer gets blocked around the rim.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/smith_100621.html

Maybe the Jazz land another pick.

The Bulls don't really have many players to move if they want to clear more cap space. Noah and Rose aren't moving. I doubt Johnson or Gibson get traded because their value on such small contracts is actually pretty solid. That leaves Hinrich and his $17 M over 2 years and Deng at $51.4 M over 4 years ($11.35 next year). But it'd be big news if they moved one of those players and didn't have to take a lot of salary back, opening up the chance for two marquee free agents to join Rose and Noah.

[Jacob]

The Bulls don't really have many players to move if they want to clear more cap space. Noah and Rose aren't moving. I doubt Johnson or Gibson get traded because their value on such small contracts is actually pretty solid. That leaves Hinrich and his $17 M over 2 years and Deng at $51.4 M over 4 years ($11.35 next year). But it'd be big news if they moved one of those players and didn't have to take a lot of salary back, opening up the chance for two marquee free agents to join Rose and Noah.

For most of the marquee free agenst, you have to do a sign and trade, so dumping one of those guys might actually limit your ability to do a sign and trade. This is one thing that gets missed sometimes, I think. LeBron is not going anywhere unless he gets the absolute max--so he needs to do a sign and trade. Well, if Lebron requires a sign and trade, it's unlikely you have the assets to do a 2nd sign and trade to get Bosh. This is the main reason you won't see 2 of the top free agents land on the same team. But you could land one of them and a lower tier FA, who can take max money, but not Bird rights max money.

[MarkGrace]

Our Mock Draft v. 6.1 came out early Tuesday morning, introducing a number of serious shake-ups in the lottery. As the day has worn on, I’m continuing to hear a lot of rumblings from teams. Here’s the latest update :

* As I first reported on Tuesday, the Nets are now leaning toward Wesley Johnson with the No. 3 pick. But the key word here is leaning. Nets sources suggest that Johnson at three is not a done deal and that Favors, and to a lesser extent, Cousins are still in the conversation.
* Sources in Minnesota are saying that they’ll take Derrick Favors at No. 4 if Turner and Johnson are off the board. The T-Wolves may be bummed by this development, but I think it's a great deal. The team lucked into Rubio at No. 5 last year and get a steal with Favors at No. 4 this year. Those two together could be awesome down the road.
* The Kings have not made up their mind at No. 5, but a well positioned league source is telling me that they continue to lean toward DeMarcus Cousins with the pick. While there isn’t totally unanimity in the Kings’ war room, that’s where the consensus lies. Greg Monroe is still in the conversation and a trade isn’t out of the realm of possibility but if the draft were to happen tonight, Cousins would be the man.
* If the Kings take Cousins at 5, we’re left with an interesting scenario at No. 6 in Golden State. We’ve had Greg Monroe pegged there for a week, but after a poor workout, the Warriors are now leaning away from Monroe. A plugged in source tells us that Ekpe Udoh is now the favorite to land in Golden State if the DeMarcus Cousins and Derek Favors are off the board.
* If Cousins and Udoh are off the board, the Pistons will be choosing between Monroe or Ed Davis. As I first reported this morning, Al-Farouq Aminu fell out of the conversation on Monday after he refused to workout in Detroit. While our Mock Draft has the Pistons drafting Davis, that will change if Monroe is on the board. Sources insist that the Pistons have both Cousins and Monroe ahead of Davis and the other big they like, Ekpe Udoh.
* At No. 8 we continue to believe that Al-Farouq Aminu is a lock at the Clippers.
* At No. 9, the Jazz will have a tough decision between Ed Davis Luke Babbitt, Gordon Hayward and Xavier Henry. While nothing is definitive, it looks like Davis has the lead, followed by Babbitt.
* Speaking of George, the Grizzlies did have him in for a workout today, but I had a few of the facts wrong from Tuesday's mock. This was actually George’s first workout for Memphis (he canceled an earlier one) and owner Michael Heisley ended up not attending the workout. The Grizzlies would still take George if he’s on the board, but if the Pacers take George, it will be Luke Babbitt.
* Talk of the Wolves trading the 16th pick may be premature. While the Grizzlies and Wolves have spoken, sources say there’s no deal yet. The Wolves continue to talk to teams as high as 5. Especially with it looking more and more like they’re getting Favors at 4, they’d love to add another athletic wing to the mix.
* Add the Cavs, Mavs and Wizards to the list of teams we discussed on Monday trying to move up in the first round. Neither the Cavs nor Mavs have first round picks, but both desire big men. The Wizards already have two picks (1, 30) in the first but would like to add another in the teens. Right now it appears that the Miami Heat are exploring the possibility of selling their pick (18).
* Finally, it looks like the Bucks aren't done dealing. This afternoon they traded Dan Gadzuric and Charlie Bell to the Warriors for Corey Maggette. Now sources say that the Bucks and Nets are in serious negotiations on a deal that would send Chris Douglas-Roberts to the Bucks for a second round pick. With the addition of Maggette and Douglas-Roberts, you have to wonder if the Bucks may look at something other than a wing with the No. 15 pick in the draft.

http://espn.go.com/blog/TrueHoop/pos...ght-draft-buzz

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
Archive
According to a source close to Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge, the Celtics have put their first-round pick in the NBA draft -- No. 19 overall -- on the market Wednesday, looking for a suitor.

Ainge hasn't been enamored with anyone at the spot, according to the source, and is willing to get a return of a future pick.

The Celtics own the 19th and 52nd picks in Thursday's draft.

Get on it, KOC. Send Utah's own 2011 pick.

Aside from being able to get two picks in what appears to be a solid, not stellar, stretch from picks 7-20, I also think this could possibly be a draft night where teams fall in love with 1 or 2 guys and feel completely indifferent about many others, and as a result will be willing to give up future considerations and/or cash to move up to ensure they get one of those players as the draft plays out. Maybe Memphis gives Utah the 12 and 28 to move up to 9 to get Babbitt, and maybe the Thunder trade the 21 and a future pick to get Alabi at 19.

[Sizzle]

I don't think anything happens today. Although I could see Utah acquiring extra picks to move up to 6 to take Monroe.

Maybe Jazz can trade AK, 9 and the Memphis pick to GS for Biedrins and 6, where they would take Monroe. Ak gives cap flexibility next year, an extra pick, and only move down 4 spots. Jazz get Monroe and have a big rotation of Monroe, Biedrins, Sap and Memo. Maybe GS doesn't want to give up Bieds though.

[smokymountainrain]

Get on it, KOC. Send Utah's own 2011 pick.

Can a person twiddle his thumbs, pick his nose and make NBA trades all at the same time?

Don't hold your breath.

[Maximus]

Can a person twiddle his thumbs, pick his nose and make NBA trades all at the same time?

Don't hold your breath.

It is amazing how Utah never makes any moves and expects to get better. No, one good move in one draft in a decade is not enough.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Can we see if there is a consensus, or something even remotely close to some common preference?

Assumption #1: Wall, Favors, Turner, Cousins, and Johnson are taken in the top 5.

Assumption #2: The Jazz will make a selection at #9.

Question: Who are your top 5 hopefuls for that pick at #9, ranked in descending order of preference?

1) Greg Monroe
2) Ekpe Udoh
3) Ed Davis
4) Cole Aldrich
5) Xavier Henry

That's how I see it. I think. And it will probably be totally different in 5 minutes. But I don't know how much I would prefer Ed Davis over someone like Larry Sanders. And Henry over Paul George is certainly not set in stone. And even though I listed 4 bigs at first, length and athleticism along the perimeter, in my mind, is as big of a need as getting bigger up front.

Why do I get the feeling that tomorrow night my team will get a very rare top 10 pick and I'm going to come away feeling very "Meh" about the whole thing?

[Donuthole]

Can we see if there is a consensus, or something even remotely close to some common preference?

Assumption #1: Wall, Favors, Turner, Cousins, and Johnson are taken in the top 5.

Assumption #2: The Jazz will make a selection at #9.

Question: Who are your top 5 hopefuls for that pick at #9, ranked in descending order of preference?

1) Greg Monroe
2) Ekpe Udoh
3) Ed Davis
4) Cole Aldrich
5) Xavier Henry

That's how I see it. I think. And it will probably be totally different in 5 minutes. But I don't know how much I would prefer Ed Davis over someone like Larry Sanders. And Henry over Paul George is certainly not set in stone. And even though I listed 4 bigs at first, length and athleticism along the perimeter, in my mind, is as big of a need as getting bigger up front.

Why do I get the feeling that tomorrow night my team will get a very rare top 10 pick and I'm going to come away feeling very "Meh" about the whole thing?

I'm tempted to flip-flop on Monroe v. Udoh, but I shan't. My order:

1) Udoh
2,3) Monroe - Aldrich (tie)
4) Davis
5) Henry

I think my latest preference is that they trade down and pick up another late first and can get one of the Aldrich/Udoh/Davis trio in the 13-14 range, and pick up Whiteside with the extra pick.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

I'm tempted to flip-flop on Monroe v. Udoh, but I shan't. My order:

1) Udoh
2,3) Monroe - Aldrich (tie)
4) Davis
5) Henry

I think my latest preference is that they trade down and pick up another late first and can get one of the Aldrich/Udoh/Davis trio in the 13-14 range, and pick up Whiteside with the extra pick.

I've certainly fallen into the trap of watching about 12 total seconds of Whiteside shooting unguarded, no pressure jumpers in an empty gym for Sacramento and wanting to make sure he's in a Jazz uni. His shot blocking and that release really make him appealing...before he ends up being the next Jonathan Bender.

It will be interesting to see how the draft actually plays out and what guys end up falling. My hope is the Jazz really believe 1 or 2 guys are realistic possibilities at 9 that they consider to be well above the other options, and then that they use future considerations to take the 18th or 19th picks that seem to be available. One rumor said Miami would want to sell the 18th pick...that is crazy that $3 M could get you just outside the lottery.

[Donuthole]

I've certainly fallen into the trap of watching about 12 total seconds of Whiteside shooting unguarded, no pressure jumpers in an empty gym for Sacramento and wanting to make sure he's in a Jazz uni. His shot blocking and that release really make him appealing...before he ends up being the next Jonathan Bender.

It will be interesting to see how the draft actually plays out and what guys end up falling. My hope is the Jazz really believe 1 or 2 guys are realistic possibilities at 9 that they consider to be well above the other options, and then that they use future considerations to take the 18th or 19th picks that seem to be available. One rumor said Miami would want to sell the 18th pick...that is crazy that $3 M could get you just outside the lottery.

For some reason it just hit me last night as I was thinking about this. Outside of Cousins, Whiteside is the biggest body in this draft. He's the type of body who could possibly provide a defensive answer to Bynum or Gasol. I'd hesitate to pick him too soon, but if you could snag him in the 16-20 range, I think you have to. Especially if you have an insurance policy in Udoh, Aldrich, or Davis at 9.

[Jacob]

Can we see if there is a consensus, or something even remotely close to some common preference?

Assumption #1: Wall, Favors, Turner, Cousins, and Johnson are taken in the top 5.

Assumption #2: The Jazz will make a selection at #9.

Question: Who are your top 5 hopefuls for that pick at #9, ranked in descending order of preference?

1) Greg Monroe
2) Ekpe Udoh
3) Ed Davis
4) Cole Aldrich
5) Xavier Henry

That's how I see it. I think. And it will probably be totally different in 5 minutes. But I don't know how much I would prefer Ed Davis over someone like Larry Sanders. And Henry over Paul George is certainly not set in stone. And even though I listed 4 bigs at first, length and athleticism along the perimeter, in my mind, is as big of a need as getting bigger up front.

Why do I get the feeling that tomorrow night my team will get a very rare top 10 pick and I'm going to come away feeling very "Meh" about the whole thing?

1. Monroe
2. Henry
3. Davis
4. Aldrich
5. Avery Bradley (don't ask me to explain that)

Note:I wouldn't actually want to pick anyone besides my top 3. And if none of them were available, then someone better would be, so I'd take whomever dropped our of the top 5 + Aminu.