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Crystal Ball |
By Ron Richards
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Let me first preface this with a caveat. I
have absolutely nothing to logically back up
what I’m going to say.
Some of you may ask, what’s different about
that? Sounds like nothing out of the
ordinary. That may be, but this one is
really out there.
I look at the stars, see how the bones fall
when I throw them, listen to my ancestors,
throw water on the rocks in the sweat hut
high on Navajo Mountain, swallow a mushroom
and drink a cold Diet Coke. Now I’m ready.
Something is in the works. Something is
going down. On Thursday night, KOC will be
burning the phone lines, dealing and
wheeling like never before. You might have
guessed that, with three draft picks and
only one or possibly two openings on the
Jazz team at the most, but something is
happening. What you might not have guessed,
is that it’s already in place, waiting for
the right circumstances to happen.
It’s set in stone, carved in hieroglyphics,
and spray painted on the walls of downtown
SLC, you just have to know where to look. It
says……
There are at least two trades already in
place, contingent on who falls where on
Thursday night. They depend entirely on
certain players falling to a certain team,
who then would call KOC, inquire if the
trade’s still on, and then Kevin pulls the
trigger. This isn’t like most drafts, where
the only suspense is if Kevin’s phone rings,
and a team wants to trade the 25th pick of
the second round for Deron Williams. Would
the Jazz be interested?
No, the Jazz have their collective hearts
set on at least two players, and are hoping
that David Stern turns the lock dial to the
first number, stepping aside and watching
the Jazz and another team dial the last two
numbers.
I may be all wet, soaked to the bone, but I
think the Jazz covet Roy Hibbert as the
second coming of Mark Eaton, to lead the
Jazz into the promised land, crying…..”THIS
IS THE GUY!” Ok, it’s a little
demonstrative…..But chances are that’s
exactly who the Jazz want. If Roy falls to a
certain team, the Jazz will give them their
first born, a box of Cracker Jack and the
key to the City for the rights to sign Mr.
Hibbert.
I’m guessing that team is the Memphis
Grizzlies, and that Memphis is trading the
28th pick and Kyle Lowry to the Denver
Nuggetts for the 20th pick. IF…..Roy Hibbert
is still on the board, Memphis would then
trade the 20th pick for the 23rd, and either
both second rounders or one second rounder
and a future consideration. The Jazz would
then select Roy Hibbert, David Stern would
then hand the Jazz the Larry O’Brien trophy,
forget the Celtics for they’ve had it long
enough, and next year’s season would be
already decided. Everyone could vacation in
France and Tahiti to their heart’s content.
That’s one trade scenario.
The other one is one that’s been widely
speculated upon, and I don’t know who the
trade partner is, just that it has to be in
the mid-thirties or it doesn’t happen in the
first place. I suspect it is Portland, for
they don’t have any desire or roster spot
for more rookies on their team. Portland has
the 33rd and 36th pick. The Jazz would then
trade both their second rounders, or perhaps
a future consideration, for Portland’s pick
and then draft Omer Asik, or even DeVon
Hardin.
The only fly in this ointment is that with
Hibbert and Fesenko, why would the Jazz
draft another center? Value? Insurance?
With the news of Nicolas Batum’s heart
condition, and it really doesn’t sound that
serious, his draft stock may take a tumble.
Perhaps the Jazz would consider drafting
Batum with this high second rounder?
I don’t know if the Jazz canceling the Draft
Party has any bearing on what may happen
Thursday night, but I wouldn’t be surprised
if part of it is that the Jazz want to be
more focused and have all the Jazz brass
ready to talk trade. After watching the
Draft Party for years, sometimes it gets a
little hectic, with phones going down, the
crowd screaming…..
I do think there will be at least one trade
going down Thursday night, probably two.
I hope Roy Hibbert is the result of one of
those trades, and if Omer Asik is the other,
it will be a very, very good night.
Can’t wait.
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