30 Teams 30 Days Utah Draft Preview

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30 Teams, 30 Days: Utah Draft Preview

Jun 18, 2008 1:38 PM

2007-2008 Finish: 54-28
2008 Draft Picks: 23rd, 44th, 53rd

Pre-Draft 2008-09 Projected Starters:
PG Deron Williams
SG Ronnie Brewer
SF Andrei Kirilenko
PF Carlos Boozer
C Mehmet Okur
Key Reserves:
PG Ronnie Price
SG Kyle Korver
SF Matt Harpring
PF Paul Millsap

What the Jazz Do Well:

The Jazz have a very solid team that is continually getting better. They have All-Star talent at four positions. Their bench was stocked last year, and their team only looks to continue its ascent to the top of the Western Conference.

Deron Williams became one of the elite point guards in the NBA. He demonstrated his leadership all year and has bought into Jerry Sloan?s system and is performing at a level that will almost guarantee himself a spot in the Olympics and All-Star game for the next decade ? that is, unless a West team trades up to grab Derrick Rose. Deron set career marks with 18.8 points and 10.5 assists per game.

Carlos Boozer was one of four guys in the league to average 20-10, and the only guy to do it in the past two seasons. His 21.1 points and 10.4 rebounds led the team, and his play on the pick-and-roll with Williams has made Utah fans say ?Stockton to Malone what?? (Just kidding).

A midseason trade saw Kyle Korver come over to the Jazz from Philly and spark the team to a 19-3 run and finish the final 50 games of the season going 38-12 ? not too bad for the most competitive conference in league history. Korver?s modest 9.8 points and 38.8% shooting from deep helped open the offense for Deron Williams to drive and dish to the sharp shooting small forward.

Greatest Areas of Improvement:

A True Low Block Scorer
While Carlos Boozer is atop the league in scoring in the paint, he is not a true low block threat. He thrives with his agility and movement in the paint area and often is the recipient of pinpoint entry passes from Williams. In addition, Mehmet Okur is often found on the outside draining 3?s, instead of posting up his man on the low block.

Strength Inside
Another downside of the Boozer-Okur tandem is the fact that both guys aren?t very intimidating in the painted area. Their main big man off the bench is Paul Millsap, whose 6-8 258 lb frame isn?t deterring anybody. The Jazz need some strength in the middle if they want to keep Western Conference wide bodies like Shaquille O?Neal and Tim Duncan under 30 points.

Who?s Gone Number 23 Recently?

Over the past five years, the 23rd pick has been a pretty productive late first round pick. Travis Outlaw is paying dividends in Portland; Francisco Garcia and Josh Boone look to make a push to become full-time starters this season; and Wilson Chandler looks like another patented Isiah Thomas sleeper pick.

2007
Wilson Chandler, New York Knicks

2006
Josh Boone, New Jersey Nets

2005
Francisco Garcia, Sacramento Kings

2004
Sergei Monia, Portland Trail Blazers

2003
Travis Outlaw, Portland Trail Blazers

Who Should the Jazz Target?

For more in-depth analysis and background regarding the players that the Jazz should target in this year?s Draft, click on each player name to be redirected to Christopher Reina?s Prospect Report piece.

Roy Hibbert of Georgetown

Hibbert is a huge body who can plug the middle for the Jazz and give them a polished post threat. He has worked out for the team and has been rumored to be their guy for the past month. The Jazz are probably just hoping the Georgetown center slips all the way down to 23.

Robin Lopez of Stanford

Lopez may very well be long gone by now, but if he is still available, he will do all the little things in his very big frame for the Jazz. He would be the perfect compliment to both Boozer and Okur and will excel learning the game under Coach Sloan.

J.J. Hickson of NC State

If they want some power on the inside, Hickson is their man. He has NBA ready strength and the ability to score down low. Could be a steal if he?s still available here for Utah.

Picks Over the Past Five Years

The Jazz have made some solid picks over the past five years. In 2003, they landed two key players in the Central Division: Cleveland?s Sasha Pavlovic and Milwaukee?s Maurice Williams. Add them to Deron Williams, Ronnie Brewer, and Paul Millsap, and the Utah upper management has had a keen eye for talent in the recent past.

2007
Morris Almond, 25th
Herbert Hill, 55th (traded to Philadelphia)

2006
Ronnie Brewer, 14th
Dee Brown 46th
Paul Millsap, 47th

2005
Deron Williams, 3rd
C.J. Miles, 34th

2004
Kris Humphries, 14th
Kirk Snyder, 16th
Pavel Podkolzine, 21st (traded to Dallas)

2003
Aleksander Pavlovic, 19th
Maurice Williams, 48th

Previous Editions of the 30 Teams, 30 Days Series

Whom do you want the Jazz to draft at number 23? Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments and questions.

Tags: NBA

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