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 A Little Draft Music

May 14, 2010
By Ron Richards

I wrote this article a few nights ago, before the Jazz season ended. I’ve made a couple of changes, one major change in my attitude towards Carlos Boozer, and the other is I’m really shocked the Jazz didn’t show up for the last game. Yes, it was good to see them fight back, but the game was already decided.

About Carlos Boozer…..I’ve been slightly amazed at how well he played this year, his change of attitude and how well he’s fit in with the team. That last night was a wake-up call and a reminder of reality if there ever was one. Carlos is a tease of the first order. He shows tremendous flashes of brilliance, but when it really counts, when his team-mates depend on him, all that matters to him is his stats, his free agent status and his money. Good luck, Carlos. If any team pays him the max, good for them. If the Jazz over-pay him, it may be the end of my involvement as a Jazz fan. I don’t want to see him as a Jazz player. I’ll step off the soapbox now.

To say it's a make or break summer might be slightly too forceful, but it's a huge summer for the Jazz organization.

After watching the Jazz crush the very good Denver Nuggets, and then seeing their struggle with the Lakers, I've come to a couple of realizations.

One, the Jazz absolutely need to get bigger. This is going to be difficult, because one of their projected mainstays is also one of the shorter PF's in the league. I don't see them moving Millsap, the organization loves him. So the alternative, then, is to get bigger at the other positions......Namely, center, as in the traditional sense, or PF-C, as is the trend of the new NBA.

There are two huge centers already on the Jazz, but there are some questions there.

Unlike many on this site, I still think Kouf can play in the NBA, and play well. If you wonder why, just look back at his rookie season and that stretch of about ten games or so, and there's your answer.

I've about given up on Fess, however. He's been given the perfect chance to make a huge impression on the NBA and the Jazz, and he's pretty much wasted it. I'd resign him, but mainly as insurance as a backup center. Hope I'm wrong about him.

But even if the Jazz get the ping pong balls to fall, and assuming they get a top 3 pick, I'd still draft a big man despite really liking Turner and Johnson. I think they're both terrific players. The reason I wouldn't draft one of them is the playoffs have given CJ Miles a chance to prove himself, and I think he's done it. I've been very, very impressed with the kid. He's arrived, I think.

Also, Wes Matthews has given the Jazz something they haven't had for a long time, a tough-as-nails guard who not only can have an impact on the offensive side of things, he's already the best defender on the team, period. Smart, tough, quick...He plays great position defense and excellent help defense. I think you'll see him get some recognition in the future as one of the best defenders in the NBA. He's been terrific against Kobe, and despite being dwarfed by Melo, he played him very well.

I want these two, CJ and Wes, to become mainstays of the Jazz in the future.

It's at the Center and PF-C positions that I want the Jazz to get longer, stronger and more physical. If Paul Millsap becomes the primary PF, they need a physical, defensive presence in the middle.

Derrick Favors would fill the bill nicely at the PF-C position. At 6-10, 250 and incredibly athletic and immensely long, he’s talented and quick enough to play three positions. But it’s playing next to Paul Millsap where the kid would really shine. He loves to play defense, sees that as his strongest talent. But even if the Jazz aren’t lucky on May 18, they have a chance to fill the bill with a PF-C type.

Aldrich would do nicely, as would Monroe, though in a different way. Monroe is very talented on the offensive end, while not the defender that Aldrich is. Epke Udoh has been getting some well deserved kudo’s, and Ed Davis is long, strong and a great defender.

But I’m beginning to think that Hassan Whitesides could be the wild card in the whole draft. If he checks out without some red flags going up, his God-given talents are so immense that someone will take a chance on him in the lottery. If you haven’t seen some video on him, check this kid out. He’s raw, not as far along as Aldrich or Monroe, but neither of them can do what this kid can do; he might become an absolute monster in the middle. Aldrich will be very good, but Whitesides has a chance to become the best shotblocker in the game today. He’s superquick, explosive, has a great frame that should put weight on easily, and is freakishly long with great instincts for blocking shots and defending the middle.

I’m not advocating the Jazz draft him, just saying that someone will almost assuredly take a chance on drafting the next Akeem. That’s who he reminds me of, and Hassan has a surprisingly nice jump shot and nice touch. This is if there are no red flags, but if there are…..

I can easily seem him climbing in the draft, maybe as far as the top five. We’ll see how the workouts and interviews and background checks go. Yes, he’s that talented. Yes, he’s the biggest risk and highest reward, or the biggest bust. Again, I’m not advocating the Jazz draft him, for the Jazz absolutely have to make this pick a good one. They cannot afford to miss on this pick.

It’s too bad Vesely withdrew from the draft, as he has been wowing folks in the Final Four in Paris. He’d have been a lock for top ten, and perhaps made a couple of these guys drop.

Now there are a lot of things that could happen this summer, and the Jazz have some really nice cards to play. AK’s expiring contract is one of the biggest in the NBA, if not the biggest, just when a financial crunch is looming on the horizon. It’s a huge plus for the Jazz, not a negative to sluff off. Someone mentioned trading the Knick’s pick to help get rid of AK’s contract. If we do that, we’re toast. There will be no future to worry about, just less payroll. If the Jazz decide to move him instead of keeping him and getting that 17 mil relief, remember Pau Gasol went to the Lakers for about the same financial relief, and AK is still a very good player, not a bum like MJ’s former number one pick, Mr. Kwame Brown. Sheesh.

What is really strange and twisted about this summer is that the Jazz have to decide before the draft what they’re going to do this summer. Keep Boozer, heaven forbid, trade AK, sign Korver, move up or down in the draft, draft a sure fire wing or a big man, it’s all dependant on where the Jazz draft after the ping pong balls drop, and they have to be decisive and take some chances with some moves, in my opinion. Normally the Jazz are very conservative, as we all know and likely dislike.

If the Jazz keep being conservative this summer, I believe it’s a huge mistake. This is a make or break off-season for the Jazz, just like last summer should have been but wasn’t. Now, they have to do their business or get off of the throne, as the saying goes, with a little less finesse and tact.

This is what I’d do if the Jazz remain at ninth. Draft a big. Say goodbye to Boozer, hopefully for a sign and trade to get something. Trade AK and his contract, if the opportunity comes along. I think it will. Will it be good enough? I think you should be able to get something really nice for that contract. A seventeen million dollar cap relief who can actually play? Who’ll probably sign for a lot less next year and still be happy? Maybe we ought to keep him. That sounds too good to pass up. Resign Korver, for a reasonable contract. He’ll sign.

Make CJ the starter at the SF. Start Wes next to Deron. Give Kouf a chance right from the start, with the understanding he won’t lose his job for a bad game or two. Hell, CJ did that for almost two seasons without staying in the doghouse permanently. Bring new kid and Sap off the bench. Rotate Korver in with Wes and CJ. Give Sundiata Gaines a chance. I’ve been very impressed with him when he was allowed to play. Ronnie Price was ok most of the time, and played great against the Lakers. Besides, it’s not like there’s a lot of minutes there behind Deron.

There are huge questions surrounding the Jazz this summer and next season. We won’t know about Memo until fall or winter, but I’m not expecting a miracle. Achilles injuries are frightening.

But I am very optimistic about Matthews and CJ. Miles, hopeful with Kouf and certain we will get a very nice young player in the draft. Whether he’s a franchise changer, that’s another question. The answer is……Maybe.

Most everything in life runs in circles. There are ups and downs, good times and bad times. The Lakers time will come for rebuilding and the lottery, and our time will come as well with all the young players we have. Unlike some, I feel that a Championship is not out of the question in the coming years. Won’t be easy, but the chance is there. We are a couple of pieces away from contending, but the chance to add those pieces is right there for the taking, if we get a little lucky and not be timid.

I think this is going to be an exciting summer for the Jazz. Moves need to be done. The draft needs to be a success. It can happen.