Sunday's draft update
The Jazz will conduct another pre-draft workout Monday, with five players participating.
The group of invitees includes Georgia Tech forward Alade Aminu (6-10, 225), Pittsburgh forward DeJuan Blair (6-7, 265), French guard Nando DeColo (6-5, 200), Marquette guard Wesley Matthews (6-5, 220) and Michigan State center Goran Suton (6-10, 245).
Of the five players who will audition at the Jazz practice facility, only Blair is considered a probable first-rounder.
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After Sunday's workout, Wake Forest forward James Johnson was asked what he had heard from other teams regarding his stock in the draft.
"I leave the paperwork ... to my agent," Johnson said. " I just play basketball. That's what I love to do. It's every kid's dream to come out and try out for all kinds of NBA teams, so I'm living the dream right now. It's definitely fun -- flying from city to city, staying in hotels and working out for a pro team like the Salt Lake Jazz."
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According to Johnson, his pre-draft workouts have demonstrated a need for him to play improved defense.
"I didn't know how hard it was," he said. "... It's different playing against regular kids in the ACC and all the best kids from every school. I had to pick it and up and I did that. I thought I did that pretty well and I'm going to continue doing that."
What is the biggest difference between college and professional basketball?
"These guys are grown," Johnson said. "They aren't kids and they get treated like grown men. That's probably going to be the biggest adjustment. Nothing on the basketball court. I think I can compete and bang with the best of them and I think I'll show it when I get to summer league."
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Jazz vice president of player personnel Walt Perrin called Johnson "... a very poor man's Carmelo Anthony."
That's why Utah will almost have to draft Johnson, if he slips to them at No. 20.
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I get the feeling the Jazz are seriously interested in drafting Oklahoma forward Taylor Griffin, if he's still on the board when they make the 50th overall pick in the second round.
Griffin is the older brother of consensus No. 1 overall pick, Blake Griffin. He worked out for the Jazz on Saturday and, I understand, showed well.
The Jazz like his work ethic, toughness and athleticism, which manifested itself in a 35-inch standing vertical leap. No player invited to the Chicago pre-draft camp had a standing vertical leap of 35 inches.
-- Steve Luhm
The group of invitees includes Georgia Tech forward Alade Aminu (6-10, 225), Pittsburgh forward DeJuan Blair (6-7, 265), French guard Nando DeColo (6-5, 200), Marquette guard Wesley Matthews (6-5, 220) and Michigan State center Goran Suton (6-10, 245).
Of the five players who will audition at the Jazz practice facility, only Blair is considered a probable first-rounder.
---
After Sunday's workout, Wake Forest forward James Johnson was asked what he had heard from other teams regarding his stock in the draft.
"I leave the paperwork ... to my agent," Johnson said. " I just play basketball. That's what I love to do. It's every kid's dream to come out and try out for all kinds of NBA teams, so I'm living the dream right now. It's definitely fun -- flying from city to city, staying in hotels and working out for a pro team like the Salt Lake Jazz."
---
According to Johnson, his pre-draft workouts have demonstrated a need for him to play improved defense.
"I didn't know how hard it was," he said. "... It's different playing against regular kids in the ACC and all the best kids from every school. I had to pick it and up and I did that. I thought I did that pretty well and I'm going to continue doing that."
What is the biggest difference between college and professional basketball?
"These guys are grown," Johnson said. "They aren't kids and they get treated like grown men. That's probably going to be the biggest adjustment. Nothing on the basketball court. I think I can compete and bang with the best of them and I think I'll show it when I get to summer league."
---
Jazz vice president of player personnel Walt Perrin called Johnson "... a very poor man's Carmelo Anthony."
That's why Utah will almost have to draft Johnson, if he slips to them at No. 20.
---
I get the feeling the Jazz are seriously interested in drafting Oklahoma forward Taylor Griffin, if he's still on the board when they make the 50th overall pick in the second round.
Griffin is the older brother of consensus No. 1 overall pick, Blake Griffin. He worked out for the Jazz on Saturday and, I understand, showed well.
The Jazz like his work ethic, toughness and athleticism, which manifested itself in a 35-inch standing vertical leap. No player invited to the Chicago pre-draft camp had a standing vertical leap of 35 inches.
-- Steve Luhm
7:01 PM
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