I've been wondering this, do you think we'll use them all? Pick Euro's? Trade up? You tell me what you think......
The Jazz don't have a lot of players signed through next season, so I don't see them trading up. Their core four are set ... PG - Deron SG - ? SF - AK47 PF - Boozer C - Okur I imagine the Jazz will draft a SG or PF with their first round pick. (Ager? Redick? Rudy Fernandez? Carney? Shelden? Paul Davis?) They can use their 2nd round picks to draft athletic players. This team really lacks athleticism at the swing position. Bringing in players like Guillermo Diaz, Eric Hicks, or James White could payoff and won't slow the development of CJ. Historically the Jazz don't draft Euro's and stash them overseas. I don't see them doing it now.
Some guys who I like who are projected to be second rounders: Leon Powe- Maybe I'm just a homer but this guy could be a steal in the second round. Hes got knees of a 40 year old but hes got plenty of scoring and rebounding skills to warrant a second round pick. He could never succeed in the NBA or he could end up being a solid bench scorer, its low risk and relatively high reward. Rashad Anderson- Very good shooter. Could be like a smaller Jumaine Jones, realistically he looks like he could be a solid scorer off the bench in his career. Won't be a very good defender or penetrator but if he develops a better handle he'd be a nice all around scorer. Allan Ray- Very good shooter and has penetrating ability. Only knock on him is that hes only 6'2. Its difficult to say whether he can play PG in the NBA, if so he may end up similar to Mo Williams, I still think he'd be a solid backup SG if PG doesn't work out with him. Guillermo Diaz- Might be a tweener PG/SG but tremendously athletic and a streaky jumpshot. Nice scorer and very competitive, I'm not sure if he'll last until the second round but if he does it should be a steal.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">Some guys who I like who are projected to be second rounders: Leon Powe- Maybe I'm just a homer but this guy could be a steal in the second round. Hes got knees of a 40 year old but hes got plenty of scoring and rebounding skills to warrant a second round pick. He could never succeed in the NBA or he could end up being a solid bench scorer, its low risk and relatively high reward. Rashad Anderson- Very good shooter. Could be like a smaller Jumaine Jones, realistically he looks like he could be a solid scorer off the bench in his career. Won't be a very good defender or penetrator but if he develops a better handle he'd be a nice all around scorer. Allan Ray- Very good shooter and has penetrating ability. Only knock on him is that hes only 6'2. Its difficult to say whether he can play PG in the NBA, if so he may end up similar to Mo Williams, I still think he'd be a solid backup SG if PG doesn't work out with him. Guillermo Diaz- Might be a tweener PG/SG but tremendously athletic and a streaky jumpshot. Nice scorer and very competitive, I'm not sure if he'll last until the second round but if he does it should be a steal.</div> Leon Powe in the 2nd round? Fat chance. He's going to be a lottery pick when he decides to come out. I expect him to be the second coming of Terry Cummings, and will have a long career in the league. Powe's back to the basket game is more advanced than a lot of NBA veterans. His ability to score in the post is a commidity because most big men in the NBA don't have the composure or footwork to score on the block. Powe doesn't have the explosiveness he once had, but he knows how to use his frame to get leapers out of position and understands leverage. Plus he has a 7 foot wingspan.
Shape, Powe definitely has the skillset and talent to be a lotto pick but his knee injuries and size will make NBA GMs be hesitant to spend a lottory pick on him. Look at Wayne Simien, hes got an inch and 15 pounds on Powe with similar skills coming out of college but he fell to the end of the first round because 1. hes an undersized PF with average athleticism and 2. he had a past of injury problems and that scared teams who wanted to draft a guy to build around in the future. Powe is in a similar situation, hes already very worn down in the legs, which doesnt usually happen to big men until they are in their 30s. Hes got great skills but GMs are suckers for young guys who are freakishly athletic and have "potential". I'm a big fan of Powe but realistically, he'll probably go late 1st round or early second depending on whether he comes out this year or next, NCAA tourney performance, workouts, and measurements. As I've already said, hes got tons of skills but theres still holes in his game, GMs will be worried about his defensive ability at 6'8 240 and he isn't much of a shot blocker. He doesnt have much of an outside game now but that can be developed later on.
The situation is different is this year's draft. No high schoolers are eligible and not many International players are blowing scouts away. I think this favors Powe's chances of moving up in the draft. Depending on who declares, there aren't any can't miss franchise players in the draft. I think teams are going to just fill holes on their roster instead of the conventional approach of stashing young talent.
