AS of 1:28 pm on Draft Day
The numbers are done and I found some very surprising things
Joe Alexander likely to go #8 to Milwaukee comes out as one of the worst offensive players
Brandon Rush who will be drafted for his shooting is not a efficient offensive player
Brook Lopez is a terrible offensive player. He uses a ton of possessions and that is how he put up his numbers
Michael Westbrook has no offensive game
Anthony Randolph is the worst offensive player in the top 60 college prospects.
On the positive side
Kevin Love is the best offensive player in the draft
Second round picks Shan Foster and George Hill are special offenisve players
Ryan Anderson of Cal and Chris Douglas Roberts are terrific on the offensive end
The best offensive center in the draft is Roy Hibbert
Click here for the complete report on their offensive rankings. I will have more to come.
As of 1:05 pm on DRAFT DAY
People are talking about Roy Hibbert at 17 to Indiana
This is surprising to me but from the last two people I heard both Javelle McGee and DeAndre Jordan are expected to go in the top 20
The slipper at this moment is Jason Thompson out of Rider and Maresse Speights out of Florida.
As of 12:55 pm on DRAFT DAY
Mario Chalmers is in New York with the Knicks right now and they are trying to get a deal done to be able to pick him between 10-14.
I just ran three mocks with people around the league and in non of them does Jarryd Bayless get drafted in the Top 10 -- I will do a top Mock when I get to the ZIons Basketball CenterRyan Anderson out of Cal is a hot name right now. I just heard him around 16 for Philadelphia.
That would be someone that we have not heard before meaning a big could slide to the Jazz.
As of 9:45 am on DRAFT DAY
I am currently running a numbers analysis on the American draft players. In a little bit I will have how the college players rank in my Locke offensive ranking; LHM Batting Average and Activity Impact Ranking.
I will have this for you as quickly as possible
As of 8:02 am on DRAFT DAY
Why is New York Working Out ...
In the last few days the Knicks have worked out Jason Thompson, JJ Augistin and Mario Chalmers all of these players are going to be drafted in the 11-15 range.
More and more it looks like New York could be drafting at #13 in Porltand's slot. Porltand would either be getting out of the draft or they maybe trying to move higher and into the Knicks #6 spot.
One rumor floating last night was David Lee and the #5 from the Knicks to the Blazers for 13th, the 27th and a player (Jarrett Jack).
Remember Porltand is also talking to New Jersey about #10.
As of 12:10 am on DRAFT DAY
The Key to Hibbert
Is there anyway Hibbert gets to Utah. Here is how it would have to happen.
All of the projected bigs go as anticipated -- Lopez, Love, Koufas, Robin Lopez, Darrel Arthur and Jason Thompson. This will get the draft to about the #16 maybe as late as #18
Then the surprises would have to start. Then from my count four of the next names would have to go off the board and maybe 4 of these names to be safe. Javelle McGee, Marrese Speights, JJ Hickson, Alexis Ajinca, DeAndre Jordan and Ibaka.
The chances are slim.
As of 11:54 pm on June 25th
Know When to Hold Em
Just talked to some people in the league and the theme at this point is stand pat. However, what often happens is talks break down as everyone goes to bed and then they start again the next morning when someone tweaks the offer. Tonight everyone is trying to get a steal and tomorrow they are making deals.
So at this moment Miami, Minnesota, Seattle and Memphis are holding.
I continue to hear that Seattle is taking Brook Lopez. I also have heard that Seattle is hunting around for another pick in the 10 to 15 range.
As of 11:36 pm on June 25th
Porltand on the Move
The hottest rumor, Chad Ford has it on ESPN, is the idea of Portland getting to #10 to take DJ Augustin. What happens if he isn't there. Charlotte is not pleased with Raymond Felton and have been shopping him.
On GM told me if he was Seattle or Minnesota he would have to strongly consider Felton and #9 for either Seattle or Minnesota's picks.
However, if they don't make the move would Charlotte take Augustin before he gets to #10. From whatI hear Russell Westbrook's agent is telling people he will not get by Charlotte at 9. Therefore, Augustin should be at #10 but if Westbrook goes early then what could happen.
As of 4:28 pm - June 25th
CHARLOTTE GRABS #20 FROM DENVER
The Denver Nuggets have traded the #20 pick to the Charlotte Bobcats for a future #1 pick. Charlotte now has the #9 pick and the #20 pick in the draft.
The Jazz could not have made this deal because they are not able to trade a future first until Philadelphia uses the pick they gave them in the Kyle Korver deal.
With Charlotte, Indiana and New Jersey both having two picks before the Jazz pick at #23 you can be certain they will both be taking one big. This makes it less and less likely that any of the big man we have discussed could slide to the Utah Jazz.
The good news is the Nuggets didn't get a point guard with this pick. If they had gotten Lowery from the Memphis Grizzlies that would have been a great deal.
O'Neal to Toronto -- Bad For Jazz
It looks like the Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto for TJ Ford deal is going to get done. The Pacers will also get the #17 pick of the draft. Here is the story.
From a Jazz perspective on the draft I think this is bad news. It means the Pacers are at #11 and #17 and with the acquisition of TJ Ford they may not need a point and they will need a big.
Rasho Nesterovic will also be going Indiana.
As of 3:27 pm on June 25th
Interesting Workouts
According to a source the Knicks worked out Jason Thompson and Mario Chalmers today. This makes me believe they will have a pick in the mid teens. The Blazers are trying to move #13 so that is the logical deduction. The Knicks are trying to move David Lee, he is their only asset that they can move. In addition, he doesn't fit what Mike D'Antoni is going to do in New York. Would Portland take David Lee for #13
Also, Philly worked out Speights, Ajenica and Darrell Arthur yesterday. This makes the whole Hibbert situation really interesting. I have been told that Sacramento won't take him at 12 and his agent wouldn't have him workout for Washington at 18 because he would be gone by then. But who is taking him. I still think it is New Jersey at #21.
As of 2:26 pm on June 25th
Who is on the Trade Block
I just talked with someone about Golden State and it sounds as though they are working hard to move Al Harrington.
This one surprised me but Charlotte has been shopping around Raymond Felton. I would assume they would try to package Felton and the #9 to go up in the draft and both Minnesota and Seattle are teams that need a point guard and they sit at #3 and #4.
As of 1:41 pm on June 25th
Where is His Backstop
One way people look at the draft is figure out where each guys backstop is. What this means is if he starts to fall where is the spot that you are certain the parachute comes out and he stops the fall. From using this system I have come up with 19 players who have backstops before the #23 pick. From a Jazz perspective this means you can take these guys off the list.
Player -- Backstop
Derrick Rose -- #2
Michael Beasley - #2
OJ Mayo - #4
Brook Lopez -- #9
Kevin Love -- #9
Danilo Gallinari -- #10
Joe Alexander -- #10
Eric Gordon -- #11
Russell Westbrook -- #11
Jarreyd Bayless -- #11
DJ Augustin -- #12
Brandon Rush -- #15
Anthony Randolph - #16
Robin Lopez -- #19
Darrell Arthur -- #19
Jason Thompson - #20
Kostas Koufas - #20
Mario Chalmers - #20
Roy Hibbert -- #21
The following players have a chance to be on the board for the Utah Jazz
PG: Kyle Weaver;
SG: Chris Douglas Roberts; Courtney Lee
SF: Nicholsa Batum; Donte Greene; BIll Walker
PF: JJ Hinson; Alexis Ajinca; Serge Ibaka: Joey Dorsey
C: Marreese Speights; DeAndre Jordan; JaVelle McGee; DeVon Hardin
As of 1:25 pm on June 25th
Top of the Draft
I am still hearing that the Sonics go big with Brook Lopez and Memphis follows with Kevin Love. This all hinges on Minnesota taking Mayo which is interesting since he doesn't fit their team.
On rumor is Memphis offering Mike Conley and #5 to Miami for #2. I LOVE MIKE CONLEY. If this has any truth it is insane. MIKE CONLEY IS GOING TO BE TERRIFIC. But then again we are dealing with Memphis.
What makes is in one report Memphis is clearing space and in another they are trying to get to #2.
As of 8:41 am on June 25th
NORTHWEST DIVISION GETS STRONGER
I just got off the phone with someone who tells me that Memphis will acquire the Denver Nuggets #20 pick in exchange for Kyle Lowry. I have mentioned before trades that are talked about at the deadline happen at the draft and trades talked about at the draft happen at the deadline. This is the classic example of this.
Memphis is in the middle of numerous other talks as well with their #5 pick so this could blow up, but it sounds pretty solid.
This is a good pick up for Denver who doesn't have a point guard on the roster. Lowry is not a good shooter and had a tough year this last year. However, he goes to the line at a great rate. He is really a combo guard who will be perfect as a #3 guard.
This is not good for the Jazz because this improves the Nugs. I like Lowry and think he would be a great addition of the Jazz but Ronnie Price can do the same thing.
Hibbert not a King
The lying gets pretty good right about now but I just talked with someone who had talked to the Kings and very adamantly said they would not take Roy Hibbert. If you believe Roy Hibbert's agent that he will be gone by 18 (what he told the Wizards and why he didn't need to come workout for the Wizards) and he is not going #12. The only reasonable spot I see is Philly at 16.
However, Philly would have to pass on Darell Arthur from Kansas and Robin Lopez in all likelihood.
As of 11:52 pm on Tuesday June 24th
Beasley's issues may be real
I just spoke with someone in the NBA who knows about the psych testing about players and he tells me the issues surrounding Beasley are real. That Miami is going to try to trade the pick and still end up with Mayo.
As Ford reports they also had Bayless in for a workout.
I did a mock draft with someone tonight and we had Bayless slip all the way to #12. This gives Miami so good leeway to get him if that is who they want. However, I think they want Mayo
As of 11:38 pm on Tuesday June 24th
Is Miami passing on Beasley -- Are they waiting for Boozer
ESPN's Chad Ford just dropped a story that Miami is seriously considering not drafting Michael Beasley. Part of the story includes that the Heat are waiting for Boozer to opt out to become a member of the Heat. This has been long talked about by Jazz fans. What strikes me about this report is that the sources Ford is using seem very close to the Heat and this may be the first time we are hearing this from the Heat's end of things.
As of 10:41 pm on Tuesday June 24thWould He Really Be Gone at #18
I just talked to someone in the league who tells me that Washignton is more than willing to move the #18 pick. Now why they would want #23 and what the Jazz would have to make that move is a real mystery. But what jumps out to me is that I would think the Jazz could get Hibbert or Robin Lopez at that spot. However, Hibbert declined the workout earlier at #18 because he was going higher and Indiana has shown interest at #11 in Robin Lopez.
Think about #18 might not even get the Jazz what they need or want.
As of 10:05 pm on Tuesday June 24th
FIRST OF MANY -- A TRADE HAS BEEN MADE
The Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a deal with the New Orleans Hornets to acquire the 27th pick in the draft for cash considerations, a Blazers source told ESPN.com.
This is strange. All reports were that the Blazers wanted out of the first round of the draft. This may be a pre-cursor to them moving the #13 pick. The big talk today was how much they were interested in Serge Ibaka but didn't want to take him at #13. They may believe they can get him at #27. The impact on the Jazz here is minimal.
According to the Washington Post, the agent of Roy Hibbert declined a workout with the Wizards because he is certain his client is going above 18th. So who is it? He worked out with the Kings who are at 12. The only other team before the Wizards at 18 that seem like a good destination for Hibbert would be Philadelphia at 16. It would be a surprise if Phoenix didn't take a shooter (read: Brandon Rush), Toronto and Golden State are playing an uptempo game; Portland at 13 is likely to go overseas or trade, Hibbert would be a great compliment to Oden.
As of 12:04 pm on Tuesday June 24th.
As of 11:45 am here is what I am hearing.
This has an interesting trickle down effect. At 9,
If
Scenario #2 – Young Non-Game Ready Bigs are slipping
This draft is loaded with bigs. However, there are two groups, the game ready and the future potential bigs. As we get closer to draft day it is beginning to feel to a lot of people in the league that the non-game ready bigs, DeAndre Jordan or Javelle McGee could be slipping.
In contrast, Robin Lopez, Jason Thompson and Roy Hibbert are all becoming more appealing.
Do you know what exactly they are talking about with Beasley and the psych test? From what I have heard there were questions surrounding his maturity but I have not heard anything regarding his whole psychological being.
Toronto was obviously looking for a big guy in the draft, and this seems to take care of it, but now with Indiana having two picks what is he likely hood that that they take at least one, and possible even 2 big men in the draft?
Does this help or hurt the Jazz?
Charlotte gets the nuggets 20th pick
This trade doesn't help the Jazz at all.
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