Granger was steal of 2005 draft
NBA Blog
Home on the Grang(er)
If Jazz vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor had been unable to trade up in the first round of the 2005 draft, Danny Granger might be playing at EnergySolutions Arena on Tuesday night, anyway.
The Jazz owned the sixth overall pick in the draft, which posed a problem for O'Connor.
Utah desperately needed a point guard and the draft's best three quarterbacks - Illinois' Deron Williams, Wake Forest's Chris Paul and North Carolina's Raymond Felton - were projected to join University of Utah center Andrew Bogut and North Carolina forward Marvin Williams in the top five.
Translation: The Jazz would not get a point guard unless they could move up.
In the days leading up to the draft, the Jazz brought in Williams, Paul and Felton for workouts.
In case nothing changed and they stayed at No. 6, the Jazz also brought in a handful of other players, including Seattle high school star Martell Webster, UConn forward Charlie Villaneuva, Texas A&M's Antoine Wright, Oklahoma State's Joey Graham, Washington guard Nate Robinson and Granger, a small forward from New Mexico.
As it turned out, O'Connor managed to pull off a draft day deal with Portland. The Jazz got the No. 3 pick in exchange for their No. 6 and No. 27 pick in the 2005 draft and a conditional first-rounder in 2006.
After Bogut and Williams went 1-2, Utah took Williams at No. 3, New Orleans grabbed Paul at No. 4 and Charlotte took Felton at No. 5. Portland used the pick it acquired from the Jazz to take Webster (you know, the guy who scored 24 points in the third quarter Saturday night).
Granger eventually slipped to Indiana at No. 17 and, over the last 2 1/2 seasons, he has proven to be one of the steals of the 2005 draft.
It's interesting to note, I think, that he might have gone as high as No. 6 if Utah had kept that pick.
O'Connor was convinced Granger was a lottery pick, despite collegiate knee surgery and a shady midseason transfer from Bradley to New Mexico that some teams considered a red flag.
I think Utah probably would have taken Granger or Frye if it had kept the No. 6 pick, even though Frye's agent warned the Jazz a few days before the draft his client did not want to play for them.
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Just for fun, let's compare the players who were selected in the 2005 draft lottery to the players who might be selected if the 2005 draft was held today:
2005 Draft Lottery: How It Happened Then
1. Andrew Bogut (Milwaukee) 2. Marvin Williams (Atlanta) 3. Deron Williams (Utah) 4. Chris Paul (New Orleans) 5. Raymond Felton (Charlotte) 6. Martell Webster (Portland) 7. Charlie Villaneuva (Toronto) 8. Channing Frye (New York) 9. Ike Diogu (Golden State) 10. Andrew Bynum (L.A. Lakers) 11. Fran Vasquez (Orlando) 12. Yaroslav Korolev (L.A. Clippers) 13. Sean May (Charlotte) 14. Rashad McCants (Minnesota)
2005 Draft: How It Might Happen Now
1. Chris Paul (Milwaukee) 2. Deron Williams (Atlanta) 3. Andrew Bynum (Utah) 4. Andrew Bogut (New Orleans) 5. Danny Granger (Charlotte) 6. Martell Webster (Portland) 7. Raymond Felton (Toronto) 8. David Lee (New York) 9. Monta Ellis (Golden State) 10. Charlie Villaneuva (L.A. Lakers) 11. Ryan Gomes (Orlando) 12. Channing Frye (L.A. Clippers) 13. Jason Maxiell (Charlotte) 14. Jarrett Jack (Minnesota)
- Steve Luhm
Home on the Grang(er)
If Jazz vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor had been unable to trade up in the first round of the 2005 draft, Danny Granger might be playing at EnergySolutions Arena on Tuesday night, anyway.
The Jazz owned the sixth overall pick in the draft, which posed a problem for O'Connor.
Utah desperately needed a point guard and the draft's best three quarterbacks - Illinois' Deron Williams, Wake Forest's Chris Paul and North Carolina's Raymond Felton - were projected to join University of Utah center Andrew Bogut and North Carolina forward Marvin Williams in the top five.
Translation: The Jazz would not get a point guard unless they could move up.
In the days leading up to the draft, the Jazz brought in Williams, Paul and Felton for workouts.
In case nothing changed and they stayed at No. 6, the Jazz also brought in a handful of other players, including Seattle high school star Martell Webster, UConn forward Charlie Villaneuva, Texas A&M's Antoine Wright, Oklahoma State's Joey Graham, Washington guard Nate Robinson and Granger, a small forward from New Mexico.
As it turned out, O'Connor managed to pull off a draft day deal with Portland. The Jazz got the No. 3 pick in exchange for their No. 6 and No. 27 pick in the 2005 draft and a conditional first-rounder in 2006.
After Bogut and Williams went 1-2, Utah took Williams at No. 3, New Orleans grabbed Paul at No. 4 and Charlotte took Felton at No. 5. Portland used the pick it acquired from the Jazz to take Webster (you know, the guy who scored 24 points in the third quarter Saturday night).
Granger eventually slipped to Indiana at No. 17 and, over the last 2 1/2 seasons, he has proven to be one of the steals of the 2005 draft.
It's interesting to note, I think, that he might have gone as high as No. 6 if Utah had kept that pick.
O'Connor was convinced Granger was a lottery pick, despite collegiate knee surgery and a shady midseason transfer from Bradley to New Mexico that some teams considered a red flag.
I think Utah probably would have taken Granger or Frye if it had kept the No. 6 pick, even though Frye's agent warned the Jazz a few days before the draft his client did not want to play for them.
-------------
Just for fun, let's compare the players who were selected in the 2005 draft lottery to the players who might be selected if the 2005 draft was held today:
2005 Draft Lottery: How It Happened Then
1. Andrew Bogut (Milwaukee) 2. Marvin Williams (Atlanta) 3. Deron Williams (Utah) 4. Chris Paul (New Orleans) 5. Raymond Felton (Charlotte) 6. Martell Webster (Portland) 7. Charlie Villaneuva (Toronto) 8. Channing Frye (New York) 9. Ike Diogu (Golden State) 10. Andrew Bynum (L.A. Lakers) 11. Fran Vasquez (Orlando) 12. Yaroslav Korolev (L.A. Clippers) 13. Sean May (Charlotte) 14. Rashad McCants (Minnesota)
2005 Draft: How It Might Happen Now
1. Chris Paul (Milwaukee) 2. Deron Williams (Atlanta) 3. Andrew Bynum (Utah) 4. Andrew Bogut (New Orleans) 5. Danny Granger (Charlotte) 6. Martell Webster (Portland) 7. Raymond Felton (Toronto) 8. David Lee (New York) 9. Monta Ellis (Golden State) 10. Charlie Villaneuva (L.A. Lakers) 11. Ryan Gomes (Orlando) 12. Channing Frye (L.A. Clippers) 13. Jason Maxiell (Charlotte) 14. Jarrett Jack (Minnesota)
- Steve Luhm
8:55 AM
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3 Comments:
My comment is for the good of Kevin O'connor and for the questionable personnel decisions of the Jazz in general.
As a Jazz fan, I watch Deron Williams play and am amazed with the efficiency of him and Boozer on a daily basis with the pick and roll. I am so happy with the way the Jazz have bounced back after losing the two Hall of Famers that we enjoyed watching for years. After their departure, the organization was en route to a potential rebuilding process for 5 to 10 years as so many teams experience. But thanks to Kevin O'connor, the Jazz (although struggling at times) are still a force to be reckoned with. And as long as they can compete, many Jazz fans will be satisfied.
My personnel comment has to deal with realizing potential. After receiving Almond and Fesenko, I was very happy with the draftees that the Jazz were able to come up with. My frustration comes from both of them playing in the D League and players that still have "seniority" or what have you such as the 3.4ppg Jarron Collins! I feel like we finally got rid of Ostertag, but then again we didn't. I would like to see the 28 to 29 ppg (in the D League) Almond get at least a spot cleared off on the bench. Or for a more mobile center in Fesenko. Maybe Im jumping the gun but I guess I am just frustrated with seeing Collins still trying to flop instead of just moving his feet to play some real defense. And on the offensive side, just another wasted spot on the Jazz roster by a big man that is out-talented by a younger player with no playing time.
I would say that the reason why the Jazz have not allowed Fes and Almond to play is that they are rookies. I have watched a couple Flash games and Fes, though talented, gets lost on both offense and defense. Sure he gets the statistics that we crave, but there are many other times that he is a huge liability.
Almond takes way too many shots, and I do not believe Sloan would be too appreciative of them. He seems to force shots that aren't there. He tends to play a little bit selfishly. He is also a liability on defense. He gets lost.
Right now, I do not see either making any impact this season for the Jazz. They are talented, but still learning. If they are a liability in the D-league, they will have a huge problem when they face better competition. They are where they should be. They need to gain experience without hurting the Jazz.
What I have a huge problem with is all of the people who look strictly at stats and feel that Collins is worse than Fes. Sure, he is not going to light up the stat sheet, but he is a serviceable veteran, that does not make too much money. He knows how to play the game, and is an asset to the Jazz, even if not in the box score.
Check out the funniest Utah Jazz blog on the internet:
http://myutahjazz.blogspot.com
These guys are funny as hell!
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