Jazz Future

[mjschijf]

I'm not sure if anyone else has put any thought into this, but next year the Jazz have the Knicks first round draft pick. The Knicks are among the league's worst teams so a top 5 pick for the Jazz is a very real possibility.

So, my question is what direction will the Jazz go with the pick? Will they trade it? Will they draft a power forward to replace Boozer? Do they have confidence in Millsap to step in for Boozer and start? Or, will Boozer surprise everyone and resign?

I'm thinking Boozer will likely be gone. Considering the contract they gave Millsap last year, I think they slide him in as the starter. So the question remains, what will the Jazz do with that draft pick? I think (and hope) they will sign a 2-guard who can create his own shot off the dribble, and drive to the hoop. I think that is the type of player the Jazz have been lacking over the years, or at least an allstar caliber player of that type.

Anyway, this is all hypothetical until the time comes. You never know what pick the Jazz will have, as there is a lot of season left, and the NBA lottery is so unpredictable. As it stands right now, the Knicks are tied for the 7th worst team in the NBA, however they aren't far away from being the 4th worst team.

What do you all think? Or am I totally jumping the gun by even thinking about any of this?

[GaryFish]

Jazz will re-sign Boozer. They can pay him more than any other team. And if any other team had wanted him, he would have opted out before this season when he had the chance. Problem for him was that there just weren't any teams that wanted him.

AK only has one more year on his HUGE FREAKING contract, so they can back-load Boozer's contract to give him the money he'll want, but in a 4-5 year deal. As for Milsap - the Jazz made a huge mistake with him and you have to credit Portland for forcing that one. They overpaid out the wazoo for a player that is a solid back-up. There is not a team in the league that would start Milsap at power forward but because Portland called the Jazz' bluff, they overpaid for him.

As well, the Jazz WAY overpaid for Okur last year - and that will bite them like the contract with AK is biting them now. Okur wanted money as a top-10 center, and the Jazz paid it. Thing is, they forgot that Okur doen't play center - he plays shooting guard. But the Jazz offense isn't set up for two shooting guards on the floor, so Okur doesn't fit.

As for the Knicks pick - I don't know what great college players are out there right now. Is there really anyone that will be in the draft this year that is a franchise-changing player? I really don't know. If not, then trade the pick for future assets. There is no point being locked into another 3-year first-round pick rookie-contract for another version of Kyle Korver.

As it stands now, barring injury on the Lakers, it is going to be VERY hard to unseat them in the west. Certainly within the timeframe of D-Will's contract. So as I see the Jazz' future - it is as a very solid team in the west - with the next few years playing for the 3 or 4 seed in the play-offs. Which is actually a really good place to be for a small market team. You never know what can happen with injuries and that will keep the Jazz at least sniffing at a possible finals appearance. I'm not sure we could really ask for more than that.

[BirdDogger]

Any pick in the top 5 to maybe 7 this year is going to produce a really nice player who'll stick around the NBA for a long time to come. There's a bunch of talent coming out this year, including several power forwards with a ton of potential. Off guards might go twice in the top three and then that position is a little thin. My guess is the Jazz will go with a power forward or a center unless they can sneak up into the top three with their ping-pong ball. It's possible that another team will want a big man and an Evan Turner or Wesley Johnson falls to them. Not the likely scenario, though.

[BirdDogger]

Just for fun I'll post some links to some videos of players that the Jazz could potentially draft between 4th and 7th this year. Each has had his name linked with the Jazz at one time or another and at least one of them will be available when the Jazz get to choose. Review the videos and decide who you're pulling for the Jazz to pick.

Hassan Whiteside, 7 foot freshman (high school video, monster defender, 40% free throw shooter)
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/hassan-whiteside

Derrick Favors, 6'9" freshman (high school video, loooong arms for a PF)
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/derrick-favors

DeMarcus Cousins, 6'11" freshman (high school video, very strong- has had character ?'s)
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/demarcus-cousins

Donatas Montiejunas, 7 foot Euro (beautiful shot! too skinny right now.)
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/donatas-motiejunas

Greg Monroe, 6'10" sophomore (very skilled on both ends, long, doesn't take over like he should)
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/greg-monroe

Patrick Patterson, 6'8" junior (Paul Millsap Jr.!, loves to bang, undersized)
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/patrick-patterson

Cole Aldrich, 6'11" junior (big guy who loves to bang)
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/cole-aldrich