"You Gotta Love It Baby" Official Jazz thread

[Blueintheface]

https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA


https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider

He and Unibrow will be the next generation of dominant big men IMO.

[Sizzle]

Smart, Randle, Gordon, Vonleh.

Seems like this is being defined as the next tier after the consensus top 4. I really have no idea how to feel about them, and each seems like a fairly mixed bag of strengths and weaknesses. I'd say out of these guys I watched Randle the most, then Smart, then Gordon. I don't recall ever watching an Indiana game this year, but I find the reaction to Vonleh funny. Ford says Vonleh's stock is skyrocketing after measurements, athletic testing and his first group workout, yet so many Jazz fans seem afraid of him. I could understand if the buzz was just on workouts and testing with no production to back it up, but it's not like 11.3/9 in 26 mins on .523/.485/.716 as a frosh is exactly slouch stuff. And he's the second youngest player in the draft behind Gordon. Here's Ford's latest on him: http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft...soar-nba-draft

It will be interesting to see what Orlando does. I could easily see them falling in love with Smart or Vonleh and maybe leaving Exum on the board.

I've thought about this very little, but am torn on how I feel. I would've loved Smart at this time last year, and nothing changed dramatically between then and now, except we added Burke and Neto, so PG isn't exactly a "need" (though, like any position, it could be improved.)

Randle is the guy who proved the most this year. But he feels a lot like a guy we just let walk in Millsap. You just wonder how effective he's going to be against longer players. But, like Smart, you can't question his motor and he seems like at the very least, he's someone who will come in and play very hard. You also wonder how much he was hurt by playing with not very good guards in Kentucky. The flip side is you almost have to move a big though with Kanter, Favors, and Gobert otherwise who loses minutes?

Vonleh has the most upside IMO. Long, skilled, shot out to the 3. I could see the Jazz falling in love with him, especially since a stretch four with size would compliment Kanter and favors really well. But he's also the least furthest along of the four you mentioned.

Gordon seems a little bit like AK. Athletic, good defender, but not the offensive go-to guy. I just worry about that for combined with Favors and Kanter as your primary bigs. Maybe if you were bringing in a badass defensive coach and the Jazz focus on playing the best D in the NBA, but I just don't see it.

And honestly, Exum has a big unknown as well. But scouts universally think he's going to be a player, and what isn't to like about a 6'6" guard who can shoot it alright and has playmaking abilities.

I just hope the Jazz are able to get the pick right. I feel like there are going to be players available when the Jazz pick that can make multiple AS teams. Important to get the pick right here.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I'm seeing quite a few Jazz fans liking Vonleh. Like you, I saw Vonleh the least of those four guys (probably only 2-3 games), but wasn't impressed with what I saw. Indiana was pretty terrible last year and if Vonleh was so good, I felt like they needed him to do more than 11 ppg. What does that project to? 14 ppg per 36? I like the 9 rebs in 26 minutes, however. In the games I saw, he just didn't do much - wasn't aggressive, didn't demand the ball, didn't create his shot, etc. Small sample size though, so I certainly don't put much stock in what I saw.

What does college success have to do with NBA potential?

[smokymountainrain]

What does college success have to do with NBA potential?

Not sure, but if you are any good and play for a shitty team, you probably ought to go down swinging and score 20-25 ppg like oh, somebody such as Damien Lillard with Weber.

[Blueintheface]

I keep waffling but I'm getting close to settling on Smart.

[MarkGrace]

Rumors of Jabari getting fat have been greatly exaggerated. His body actually looks better.

[smokymountainrain]

Rumors of Jabari getting fat have been greatly exaggerated. His body actually looks better.

Grace, your comment seems serious. But you can't be serious, so I'll go with that.

[MarkGrace]

He looks leaner to me than last I saw him at Duke.

[smokymountainrain]

He looks leaner to me than last I saw him at Duke.

He's got a loose black T-shirt on covering his entire body. He might be leaner, but I might be blind because I sure can't tell from watching that.

[MarkGrace]

He's also got loose black shorts on.

[smokymountainrain]

He's also got loose black shorts on.

I agree.

[MarkGrace]

Andrew Wiggins measurements from today. 6' 8.75" in shoes, 7' 0" wingspan, 8" 11" standing reach.

Joel Embiid's measurements at the workout on Fri: 7' 1" in shoes, 7' 5.75" wingspan, 9' 5.5" standing reach.

Jabari Parker's measurements at workout on Friday: 6' 9" in shoes, 6' 11.75" wingspan, 8' 11.5" standing reach.

https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider

Some other good tibdits on Ford's twitter.

[smokymountainrain]

https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider

Some other good tibdits on Ford's twitter.

All three measured very well, but especially Embiid. 7'1" and 7'6" is excellent. Hard to imagine, if he's healthy, Embiid not going #1 overall.

[Sizzle]

Do you roll the dice on Embiid if he drops, but doesn't come to Utah to work out/be checked out by Utah's medical staff? If doctors in Cleveland get a look, but the Cavs don't take him, do you draft Embiid at 5? Assume Parker, Wiggins, Exum and Smart are all off the board. I think you do, it's worth the risk for a potential franchise changing center. But man, it sure would suck to waste a top 5 pick.

[Donuthole]

Do you roll the dice on Embiid if he drops, but doesn't come to Utah to work out/be checked out by Utah's medical staff? If doctors in Cleveland get a look, but the Cavs don't take him, do you draft Embiid at 5? Assume Parker, Wiggins, Exum and Smart are all off the board. I think you do, it's worth the risk for a potential franchise changing center. But man, it sure would suck to waste a top 5 pick.

Yes. It won't happen, but yes.