"You Gotta Love It Baby" Official Jazz thread

[Jacob]

I've been against trading down the whole time because teams often screw up by not taking the best player available. But I'm starting to come around to the possibility. If the Jazz can't really distinguish between 3 guys as best available, then you might as well trade down. Especially if you are considering drafting a Euro like Vesely.

A few examples of trading down:
The bad--
Portland passes on Paul and Williams to move down to take Webster
Minny moves swaps #6 for #7, takes Foye instead of Roy
Bulls swap #2 for #4, take Tyrus Thomas, Portland gets Aldridge.

Portland was involved in all 3. The last 2 were in the same draft and Portland got the better deal by moving up both times.

The good:
Minny picks Mayo at #3, and trades him down to #5 to get Love.


I'm also more down on Kanter after watching his HS highlights on DX. How much weight should you give HS video? Not much, except when its all you have to go on. He spent most of his time shooting long jumpers. He barely attacked the basket or dunked and we was between 3 inches and foot taller than everybody else on the court. He didn't do much of anything on D. He just dropped out of my top 5.

[smokymountainrain]

I've been against trading down the whole time because teams often screw up by not taking the best player available. But I'm starting to come around to the possibility. If the Jazz can't really distinguish between 3 guys as best available, then you might as well trade down. Especially if you are considering drafting a Euro like Vesely.

A few examples of trading down:
The bad--
Portland passes on Paul and Williams to move down to take Webster
Minny moves swaps #6 for #7, takes Foye instead of Roy
Bulls swap #2 for #4, take Tyrus Thomas, Portland gets Aldridge.

Portland was involved in all 3. The last 2 were in the same draft and Portland got the better deal by moving up both times.

The good:
Minny picks Mayo at #3, and trades him down to #5 to get Love.


I'm also more down on Kanter after watching his HS highlights on DX. How much weight should you give HS video? Not much, except when its all you have to go on. He spent most of his time shooting long jumpers. He barely attacked the basket or dunked and we was between 3 inches and foot taller than everybody else on the court. He didn't do much of anything on D. He just dropped out of my top 5.

Way too many question marks to draft kanter at 3, IMO. I tend to agree with Grace regarding Vesely. I'm not really sure what distinguishes him from Jeremy Evans at this point.

[MarkGrace]

So who exactly is everyone drafting at #3? As I've said before, someone's gotta be the #3 pick.

[pellegrino]

So who exactly is everyone drafting at #3? As I've said before, someone's gotta be the #3 pick.

I'm drafting myself and signing a multi-year deal with loads of guaranteed money upfront.

[Sizzle]

So who exactly is everyone drafting at #3? As I've said before, someone's gotta be the #3 pick.

Harrison Barnes

[smokymountainrain]

So who exactly is everyone drafting at #3? As I've said before, someone's gotta be the #3 pick.

Trade down.

[Jacob]

So who exactly is everyone drafting at #3? As I've said before, someone's gotta be the #3 pick.

Williams, if available. If not, Knight or Valanciunas.

[smokymountainrain]

Williams, if available. If not, Knight or Valanciunas.

Why not get some value + take either Knight or Valanciunus at 5 or 6? It's a near certainty one will be there at 6 and that much more of a lock one will be there at 5.

[Jacob]

Why not get some value + take either Knight or Valanciunus at 5 or 6? It's a near certainty one will be there at 6 and that much more of a lock one will be there at 5.

Yeah. I agreed with that in my post above, unless Williams is available. I was merely responding to who I would select at 3. Still, I think 6 is probably too low.

The draft could very well go:
1. Irving
2. Williams,
3. Knight
4. Valanciunas
5. Kanter

Then, if you are picking at 6, I think you are screwed because I don't like the dropoff after that.

[smokymountainrain]

Yeah. I agreed with that in my post above, unless Williams is available. I was merely responding to who I would select at 3. Still, I think 6 is probably too low.

The draft could very well go:
1. Irving
2. Williams,
3. Knight
4. Valanciunas
5. Kanter

Then, if you are picking at 6, I think you are screwed because I don't like the dropoff after that.

Makes sense. I guess perhaps the biggest difference between you and me is that I'm no more convinced about Williams than any of the other next 5 or 6 guys.

[Blueintheface]

Makes sense. I guess perhaps the biggest difference between you and me is that I'm no more convinced about Williams than any of the other next 5 or 6 guys.

Nor am I. I'll wager an entire nickel that a 2nd round/FA signee this year will wind up making a greater NBA impact than at least 1 of these guys in the top 8. The Euros are the real problem in this group though. The more video I watch the more I'm convinced that the EU uses saltpeter instead of flouride. I just can't abide another defenseless stiff (limp), especially if Favors can't stay on the floor.

[MarkGrace]

There is no way I pass up Biyombo at 12, assuming you believe he is 18 or 19. Even if you go big with the first pick.



I really don't see it. What is special about Vesely that makes him worthy of the #3 pick? He gets some comparisons to AK, but it doesn't look like he is close when you look at his blocks and steals stats. His FT shooting % is to big of a problem to overlook at age 21 for a guy who's going to play the 3. I just don't see it. Who is a comparable player in the NBA? A 6-11 SF who can't shoot and hasn't proven to be an elite defender? With his height and athleticism, you'd hope he's your Lamar Odom or AK. But both of those players are also effective at the 4. Could Vesely be? I don't know.

Vesely's %'s aren't pretty, but watching his vids he looks much more natural with his shooting mechanics than AK.

[MarkGrace]

I really don't see it. What is special about Vesely that makes him worthy of the #3 pick? He gets some comparisons to AK, but it doesn't look like he is close when you look at his blocks and steals stats. His FT shooting % is to big of a problem to overlook at age 21 for a guy who's going to play the 3. I just don't see it. Who is a comparable player in the NBA? A 6-11 SF who can't shoot and hasn't proven to be an elite defender? With his height and athleticism, you'd hope he's your Lamar Odom or AK. But both of those players are also effective at the 4. Could Vesely be? I don't know.

I think another player in that vein you could throw in is Josh Smith. Came in as a HSer (though 19), and 6 years later still isn't much of a shooter and definitely wasn't an elite defender two years into the league (same age as Vesley). I think he plays more 4 now that he's filled out, but has spent most of his career at the 3, no?

[MarkGrace]

Nbadraft.net has an updated mock today.

http://www.nbadraft.net/2011mock_draft

If the draft went down this way, I would be one pleased Jazz fan. Though again, I still think you have to look at Biyombo at 12.

Also, they don't have the euro kid that Jacob likes listed. Must think he's going to pull out before the int'l deadline.

[Surfah]

Nbadraft.net has an updated mock today.

http://www.nbadraft.net/2011mock_draft

If the draft went down this way, I would be one pleased Jazz fan. Though again, I still think you have to look at Biyombo at 12.

Also, they don't have the euro kid that Jacob likes listed. Must think he's going to pull out before the int'l deadline.

Of course you'd love that draft. Kanter going #1 and Irving slipping to 3? Did Kyrie just tear his ACL or something?

Kanter's stock seems to be dropping from what I have been reading.