Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor said Utah is preparing for the draft with the idea that veteran center Mehmet Okur might not return to action.

“What we’re planning on with Memo is to have him back and have him healthy,” O’Connor said. “How long it takes him to get back and into the flow of things, I don’t know. But you prepare for the worst, and you hope for the best.”

Okur is making progress during his rehabilitation and is expected to be in Salt Lake City by mid-June.

Enes Kanter -- who is projected as a top-five pick despite the fact that teams haven't seen him play since last year's Nike Hoop Summit in Portland -- convinced NBA executives that he has the stamina to play heavy minutes right away.

He lasted approximately 21 minutes on a brutal treadmill test that includes steep inclines, declines and sprints, putting himself atop the big man class when it comes to being dedicated about his body.

"He went 21-plus minutes on the treadmill test, and only five guys -- plus Enes -- [did that] and four of them were guards," Ergul told SI.com. "[NBA officials] said that was the first time in the draft in modern history that had happened, that no 6-11-plus guys ever finished 21-minutes-plus on the treadmill test ... People don't realize how prepared this kid is, how dedicated he is."

Yet the talk surrounding Kanter in Chicago had much more to do with the fact that he didn't sit down for interviews with Utah (No. 3, No. 12 picks), Toronto (No. 5) and Milwaukee (No. 10). Those non-meetings raised questions about whether Kanter's camp was avoiding certain teams, but Ergul said that wasn't entirely the case. They were only avoiding the Bucks.

"The only one I really didn't care for him [to go to] is Milwaukee," Ergul said. "I'll be honest ... it came out all wrong. [Utah general manager] Kevin [O'Connor] knew about it ... We called them, and it was because in next two weeks I had a feeling we were going to see each other extensively, so there's no reason for that [interview].”

Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor talked about what he’s looking for and how he plans to evaluate prospects.

Asked about drafting players based on availability versus need, O'Connor replied:

“Just always go back to the Michael Jordan rule."

O'Connor was referring to Portland's ill-fated decision to select Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft.

O'Connor also indicated that position would have no bearing on his decision.

It was a good result last night for the Utah Jazz and GM Kevin O’Connor, who won the third overall pick at the draft lottery, beating the odds to finish three spots above what was projected.
 
O’Connor acquired the pick in the biggest trade in team history, when he felt compelled to deal Deron Williams to the Nets for a veteran and three what-ifs, including New Jersey’s 2011 first-rounder.
 
But while O’Connor was boosted by the good fortune of the ping pong balls, he wasn’t claiming any great victories.  There are only so many Williams’ in the basketball universe, and O’Connor doesn’t see such a franchise-changer in what is widely considered a weak draft.
 
“Who knows (if any of the draft picks will be as good as Deron Williams)? I know one thing. I know how good Deron Williams is. I don’t think you can say that about anybody in this draft,” he said.

Ten months after LeBron James left the team as a free agent, the Cavaliers took a major step toward rebuilding their franchise by winning the first overall pick in Tuesday's draft lottery.  

Ironically, the ping pong ball that bounced Cleveland's way was attached to the Clippers' selection, which the team acquired in the Baron Davis trade, not their own. The latter pick fell to fourth despite the Cavaliers having the second-best chance at taking one of the top three spots, given that the team owned the league's second-worst record.   

The Wolves, with the NBA's worst record, took the second selection and the Jazz will pick third, by way of the pick Utah acquired from New Jersey in the trade of Deron Williams to the Nets.

Full lottery results are as follows:

1.  Cleveland (via Clippers)

2.  Minnesota

3.  Utah (via Nets)

4.  Cleveland 

5.  Toronto

6.  Washington

7.  Sacramento

8.  Detroit

9.  Charlotte

10.  Milwaukee

11.  Golden State

12.  Utah

13.  Phoenix

14.  Houston

Andrei Kirilenko feels optimistic, his mind is clear and his body has healed. The latter is key.

After missing Utah’s final 10 games due to nagging injuries, the Russian native is healthy and plans to play for his home country in the 2011 European Basketball Championship.

The tournament is scheduled from Aug. 31 to Sept. 18 in Lithuania.

“I feel pretty good,” said Kirilenko, who is set to fly back to Russia this week and doesn’t plan to return to the United States until August. “I was pretty close at the end of the year. But, obviously, we ended [the season] a little bit early.”