NBA Draft 2011: Five Wisest Ways for the Utah Jazz to Use Their Draft Picks
The Utah Jazz are historically a team that drafts well. They drafted Paul Millsap deep in the Second Round in 2006, and he would go on to drop 46 points on Miami in November 2010 in a thrilling overtime victory.
Jazz scouts also had the vision in 2009 to sign the undrafted Wesley Matthews—a player who would go on to average 16 points in the 2010-2011 season for the Portland Trailblazers—only a year after all 30 teams passed on his talents.
Although Gordon Hayward has yet to full prove himself after being drafted ninth overall in the 2010 draft, he has shown many encouraging signs and looks to be yet another success story for the Jazz scouting staff.
The 2011 NBA draft provides Utah with an opportunity to contend for a Western Conference Playoff spot, only a year removed. Should they use their two draft picks in any of these five ways, I believe that the Jazz will once again be involved in the post-season when the time comes in 2012.
5. Draft Kemba Walker with the No. 3 Pick and Pick Up Markieff Morris 12th
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The last thing the Jazz need is a player who does not want to be in Utah. Kemba Walker wants to be in the bright lights of New York, and Salt Lake City may not suffice. It is highly unlikely that Walker will end up in New York this year and should Utah draft him, the city may simply serve as a pit stop until Walker can find a way out.
A volume scorer is actually something Utah could use. If he does want to play for the Jazz, he could actually fit well in the back court with Devin Harris with one of them moving over to the two-spot.
Markieff Morris may be a bit of a tweener, but that may not necessarily be a bad thing for the Jazz. He is bigger than his brother, and although his jump shot is not as developed, he still has a good touch around the rim. With the future of C.J Miles and Kirlenko up in the air (although I do believe Kirlenko will return), Markieff could play a role in the future of the Jazz. They could use another big man who can spread the floor whilst also being able to finish around the rim.
4. Draft Brandon Knight and Kenneth Faried
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I honestly feel that Brandon Knight will be the second best guard to come out of the draft after Irving. He certainly needs work on his jump shot, but the ability to get to basket is invaluable and something that cannot really be taught.
Devin Harris used to be one of the best slashers in his day, and I feel Knight could learn much from the former Wisconsin-Madison standout. Knight may be a streaky shooter, but I still feel that his jump shot will end up being more reliable next season than Raja Bell's, and the Jazz are effective in running plays to get open shots for their two-guards. Utah may the right environment for a guard like Knight to prosper.
Kenneth Faried fits into the new Tyrone Corbin system in Utah. During his brief spell in charge last season, Coach Corbin definitely was looking to push the ball more often—especially when Earl Watson had the ball in his hands. His energy and athleticism would definitely allow Utah to push the ball more often, whilst his defense and rebounding provides some security on the other end.
Although offensively raw, the Jazz could do well to pick Faried with their 12th pick.
3. Draft Enes Kanter, Trade Al Jefferson or Mehmet Okur
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Big Al kept the Jazz single-handedly alive in many games after the Deron Williams and prevented the Jazz season from falling into disrepute. Saying that, I do not think he is the way forward for the Jazz. He plays atrocious pick-and-roll defense, allowing the opposition anything they want on the switch. He seems lethargic on defense, which is a pity as he has some of the best post-up moves in the game, having studied under the great Kevin McHale.
Jefferson may do well with a defensive-minded player like Derrick Favors manning the front-court with him, with Millsap moving over the the three-spot—something Coach Corbin said he has been prepping Millsap for. Despite all of this, this does not hide the fact that the Jazz have a crowded front-court.
They could do with dealing away Jefferson or Okur, or maybe even both. I like the idea of a straight up trade with the 76ers. Trading Jefferson for Iguodala as Iggy would allow the Jazz to push the ball much more often. He could even play as a two-guard, allowing Kirilenko to return to the three spot next season.
Drafting Kanter would make a trade seem imminent, and the Jazz could go many other ways with offseason moves. As for the 12th pick, they could use an outside shooter to provide some scoring off the bench. Does anyone know how to do The Jimmer?
2. Find a Way to Draft Alec Burks
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Before the draft lottery, I felt that the Jazz would do well to stay with the sixth pick and use it to draft Alec Burks—a player many analysts believe will turn out to be one of the best players from this draft class. Burks has the ability to create his own shot—a skill many NBA GMs will be drooling over.
It may be a bit of a stretch to draft Burks with the third pick, but the Jazz may have to draft for need here. The only worrying thing about Burks is that, as a shooting guard, he does not have a reliable outside shot. But shooting can be worked upon. Hours of practice has led to Derrick Rose developing a jumper this season that could extend out to the three-point line. There is no reason that Burks could not do the same.
Burks has great size to be a successful shooting guard, and drafting him would solve many problems for the Jazz.
With their 12th pick, they could pick another guard in Josh Selby rather than picking a big man who would spend more time on the bench behind the current rotation.
Selby was highly-recruited coming out of high school, and definitely has the talent to make it big in the NBA. He could really prosper in the right environment.
1. David Kahn, Please Let Us Have Derrick Williams
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I wouldn't put anything past the Timberwolves GM. Having drafted three point guards in the first round in 2009 and trading the best one away, I was definitely more happy that the Timberwolves ended up with the second pick rather than the Cavaliers.
The T-Wolves already have Michael Beasley who is very similar to Williams. They could use Kanter to break up the less-than-terrifying rotation of Darko Milicic and Nikola Pekovic rather than having Williams—a player who plays two positions well, the two positions that are occupied by the Timberwolves two best players.
The Jazz could really use Williams from the start. His athleticism would allow Devin Harris and Earl Watson to push the ball more. If the Jazz could land Williams, it wouldn't matter much what they do with their 12th draft pick.
Go draft Jimmer Fredette and trade him for a couple of milk duds and Zydrunas Ilgauskas for all I care.
It wouldn't matter. Williams is the real deal. If the Jazz land him, they will definitely make the playoffs next season.
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