Final draft thoughts
For whatever first impressions are worth, I walked away from talking to Morris Almond after his predraft workout thinking, "He's absolutely the one." I was surprised by how many fans attending the draft party at EnergySolutions Arena seemed to think the same thing.
The Jazz found the three-point shooter they needed, they found a guy who's excited about being in Utah, they found a player who has a shot at contributing to a conference finals team and they found a poised kid who wants to be part of the program.
There are undoubtedly players with more potential than Almond who were picked late in the first round or early in the second round. Almond may be more fully developed than the parade of 19-year-old freshmen picked one after another in the first round.
But on June 28, 2007, Almond was exactly the kind of player the Jazz needed. Now they just have to find minutes for him with Derek Fisher, Gordan Giricek, Ronnie Brewer and C.J. Miles all playing two-guard.
(I don't know what the free-agent market is going to be like for Miles but I have to imagine that another team might present more opportunity than the Jazz. Kevin O'Connor said after the draft that the Jazz haven't changed their thinking on wanting Miles back.)
Almond has the shooting stroke to win any game of H-O-R-S-E in the state of Utah. Jerry Sloan said that as long as he makes open shots, he'll find a way to get him on the court. The questions about Almond start with his defense and athleticism.
He has to be more than just a guy coming off screens for jumpers, though that is his strength. Playing at two-guard also means defending the Kobe Bryants and Vince Carters and Tracy McGradys of the world.
"I think my offense got me drafted," Almond said, "but my defense and basketball IQ, playing hard and intense and things like that will get me on the floor. The offense is not the part I worry about.
"It's really just playing to coach Sloan's liking and the specifications of the offense and the team structure. I feel comfortable that I can come in. . . . I think it's a good fit, so I should be able to contribute somewhere."
All the Jazz have asked is for a player who's willing to work and willing to play team-ball. Almond should have little problem. I think the Jazz also couldn't risk the chemistry of their team on a player with potential who might be a problem child.
The Jazz think Almond is a good passer and were impressed that he averaged 6 rebounds a game. Sloan said he thinks Almond has the size at 6-foot-6 to get inside and post up at times. And Almond knew Sloan's system was a fit for him.
"Guys that have played four years, they generally wind up looking at teams," Kevin O'Connor said, "and looking at style of play and looking at everything else. And sometimes they like it and sometimes they don't.
"I think as we go forward, I think everyone's going to look at our point guard [Deron Williams] and say, ‘Oooh. He'd be a pretty good guy to play with.' I don't care what position you play. Except maybe at point guard."
O'Connor telegraphed the pick midway through the first round when he addressed the crowd and teased a group of fans in the front row with Almond signs by saying, "Don't tell everyone who we're taking."
Almond also could not have asked for a better reception. The pick was cheered after it was announced in the arena and then as commissioner David Stern followed in New York. Almond will be introduced this afternoon at the Jazz's practice facility.
As for the rest of the draft, the Northwest Division was transformed thanks to the Greg Oden and Kevin Durant picks and the Zach Randolph and Ray Allen trades. The division got better just because of the first two players take. The rest of it is a little complicated.
Portland rid themselves of Randolph's max value contract but took back Channing Frye and Steve Francis, who play the same position as LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy/Jarrett Jack. The Blazers once again spent Paul Allen's millions to load up on draft picks.
The Sonics are in a full-fledged rebuilding mode, starting with Durant and Jeff Green. There's a lot of work for Seattle to do with its roster, which has a ton of project centers and a ton of point guards. Who wants Robert Swift? How about Luke Ridnour?
Minnesota drafted Corey Brewer but didn't find a taker for Kevin Garnett. Denver paid off the Allen Iverson trade in draft picks. I liked Chicago taking Joakim Noah at No. 9 and Atlanta finally drafting a point guard with Acie Law IV at No. 11.
The Bucks could be in for a world of headaches in dealing with agent Dan Fegan and the Chinese government in trying to get Yi Jianlian to play there. Javaris Crittenton joins Jordan Farmar as the Lakers' second young point guard. Marco Belinelli went too high at No. 18.
Also wondering who you think the next Carlos Boozer is out of the early second round picks. It's hard to imagine the disappointment Gabe Pruitt, Marcus Williams, Nick Fazekas and Glen "Big Baby" Davis are feeling. My vote, by the way, is for Pruitt.
I'd give the suit of the night award to Nick Young - - loved the white blazer, black pants and stripped tie - - and the line of the night to Spike Lee in talking about "the brother from DePaul" that the Knicks were going to draft. He was right, too.
Catch your breath Friday because the free agent negotiating period begins at 10:01 p.m. Saturday. We have a host of subjects to address with O'Connor, including whether the Jazz can and will look to spend.
--Ross Siler
The Jazz found the three-point shooter they needed, they found a guy who's excited about being in Utah, they found a player who has a shot at contributing to a conference finals team and they found a poised kid who wants to be part of the program.
There are undoubtedly players with more potential than Almond who were picked late in the first round or early in the second round. Almond may be more fully developed than the parade of 19-year-old freshmen picked one after another in the first round.
But on June 28, 2007, Almond was exactly the kind of player the Jazz needed. Now they just have to find minutes for him with Derek Fisher, Gordan Giricek, Ronnie Brewer and C.J. Miles all playing two-guard.
(I don't know what the free-agent market is going to be like for Miles but I have to imagine that another team might present more opportunity than the Jazz. Kevin O'Connor said after the draft that the Jazz haven't changed their thinking on wanting Miles back.)
Almond has the shooting stroke to win any game of H-O-R-S-E in the state of Utah. Jerry Sloan said that as long as he makes open shots, he'll find a way to get him on the court. The questions about Almond start with his defense and athleticism.
He has to be more than just a guy coming off screens for jumpers, though that is his strength. Playing at two-guard also means defending the Kobe Bryants and Vince Carters and Tracy McGradys of the world.
"I think my offense got me drafted," Almond said, "but my defense and basketball IQ, playing hard and intense and things like that will get me on the floor. The offense is not the part I worry about.
"It's really just playing to coach Sloan's liking and the specifications of the offense and the team structure. I feel comfortable that I can come in. . . . I think it's a good fit, so I should be able to contribute somewhere."
All the Jazz have asked is for a player who's willing to work and willing to play team-ball. Almond should have little problem. I think the Jazz also couldn't risk the chemistry of their team on a player with potential who might be a problem child.
The Jazz think Almond is a good passer and were impressed that he averaged 6 rebounds a game. Sloan said he thinks Almond has the size at 6-foot-6 to get inside and post up at times. And Almond knew Sloan's system was a fit for him.
"Guys that have played four years, they generally wind up looking at teams," Kevin O'Connor said, "and looking at style of play and looking at everything else. And sometimes they like it and sometimes they don't.
"I think as we go forward, I think everyone's going to look at our point guard [Deron Williams] and say, ‘Oooh. He'd be a pretty good guy to play with.' I don't care what position you play. Except maybe at point guard."
O'Connor telegraphed the pick midway through the first round when he addressed the crowd and teased a group of fans in the front row with Almond signs by saying, "Don't tell everyone who we're taking."
Almond also could not have asked for a better reception. The pick was cheered after it was announced in the arena and then as commissioner David Stern followed in New York. Almond will be introduced this afternoon at the Jazz's practice facility.
As for the rest of the draft, the Northwest Division was transformed thanks to the Greg Oden and Kevin Durant picks and the Zach Randolph and Ray Allen trades. The division got better just because of the first two players take. The rest of it is a little complicated.
Portland rid themselves of Randolph's max value contract but took back Channing Frye and Steve Francis, who play the same position as LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy/Jarrett Jack. The Blazers once again spent Paul Allen's millions to load up on draft picks.
The Sonics are in a full-fledged rebuilding mode, starting with Durant and Jeff Green. There's a lot of work for Seattle to do with its roster, which has a ton of project centers and a ton of point guards. Who wants Robert Swift? How about Luke Ridnour?
Minnesota drafted Corey Brewer but didn't find a taker for Kevin Garnett. Denver paid off the Allen Iverson trade in draft picks. I liked Chicago taking Joakim Noah at No. 9 and Atlanta finally drafting a point guard with Acie Law IV at No. 11.
The Bucks could be in for a world of headaches in dealing with agent Dan Fegan and the Chinese government in trying to get Yi Jianlian to play there. Javaris Crittenton joins Jordan Farmar as the Lakers' second young point guard. Marco Belinelli went too high at No. 18.
Also wondering who you think the next Carlos Boozer is out of the early second round picks. It's hard to imagine the disappointment Gabe Pruitt, Marcus Williams, Nick Fazekas and Glen "Big Baby" Davis are feeling. My vote, by the way, is for Pruitt.
I'd give the suit of the night award to Nick Young - - loved the white blazer, black pants and stripped tie - - and the line of the night to Spike Lee in talking about "the brother from DePaul" that the Knicks were going to draft. He was right, too.
Catch your breath Friday because the free agent negotiating period begins at 10:01 p.m. Saturday. We have a host of subjects to address with O'Connor, including whether the Jazz can and will look to spend.
--Ross Siler
2:07 AM
| 
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home