18. Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz have the 18th pick and are represented by:
Michael Wendt .
With the 18th pick, the Jazz (making the best pick in the draft IMHO :-)),
select:
George Lynch, SF, 6-7, North Carolina
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TEAM NEEDS
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Utah finds itself in a rather interesting situation. The Jazz were an
early choice to make the NBA finals. However due to their
inconsistency in the second half of the season, they ended up in the
sixth playoff position in the Western Conference. The important
factor to assume is that Malone and Stockton weren't playing as well
merely from being tired from a short summer vacation. This would mean
that the Jazz will choose eighteenth, while still remaining a
legitimate title contender next year. Thus Utah needs a good role
player that might contribute more later in his career.
CENTER: This has long been (and still is) a weak spot for the Jazz
ever since Mark Eaton's career started to level off. Eaton is still
an effective shot blocker and average rebounder, but his mobility and
speed are worse than ever. Mike Brown is an effective backup at power
forward, but not at center, due mainly to his strength, however he too
is on the down side of career. James Donaldson was a virtual
non-factor and probably won't be back next year.
POWER FORWARD: Karl Malone is still the best power forward in the
game, contrary to what the past season and the first round matchup
against Shawn Kemp showed. He will mostly likely register another
20-10 year (maybe a 30-10) next year, unless he is injured. Larry
Krystowiak and Mike Brown combine to give the Jazz effective backup at
power forward.
SMALL FORWARD: The Jazz have two solid small forwards in the hard
working Ty Corbin and streaky David Benoit. This, however is the only
thing they have in common (being solid, that is). If there were no
small forward position Corbin would be a power forward (good
rebounder, poor 3pt%, and hard worker) and Benoit would be a shooting
guard (OK 3pt%, good jumper, streaky).
SHOOTING GUARD: Not a whole lot of problems here. When Jeff Malone is
hitting his fadaway shot, he can be as hard to guard as the two
superstars. When he isn't hitting, the Jazz can go small with Jay
Humphries, or even switch Benoit over to shooting guard (usually not a
good idea)
POINT GUARD: John Stockton's precision with his passes, his quiet but
tough personality, his outside, his dribbling, and most importantly,
his intelligence, all make him the best point guard in the league.
Before his trade to the Jazz, Humphries was fast becoming one of the
best point guards in the league (even without his biblical name).
Another point guard, John Crotty could either be another one of the
Jazz's rookie free agents steals or he could be cut.
MY SELECTION:
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I select George Lynch. Lynch is tough player that can hit the outside shot,
but more importantly he is a good rebounder and good defender.
OTHERS CONSIDERED:
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Lynch is a player that would play at one of the Jazz's stronger
positions, small forward. Because of this I considered players at the
Jazz's weaker positions, Luther Wright and Rex Walters. However I do
not see these players as having a major impact in the next few years,
which is what the Jazz need considering the age of their premier
players. Local star Josh Grant was also considered but his age
steered me away from him.
WHO THEY'LL PROBABLY TAKE:
--------------------------
They will probably take Lynch, Mills, or Dehere depending on who is left at
this point in the draft.
OTHER MOVES:
------------
The Jazz might trade K. Malone and their pick for the No. 1, however I
highly doubt this as that would mean giving up a first team all-NBA
member and probably a solid player at no. 18
======================================================================
Draft Summary:
1. Orlando
GM: Tom@Orlando
Pick: Chris Webber, PF, 6-10. University of Michigan
2. Philadelphia
GM: Dave Meeks
Pick: Shawn Bradley, C, 7-7. BYU
3. Golden State
GM's: Mike Moore
Terry Wong
Pick: Jamal Mashburn, SF, 6-8. Kentucky
4. Dallas
GM: Curtis Hill
Pick: Anfernee Hardaway, SG, 6-7, Memphis State
5. Minnesota
GM's: Kevin Hansen
Toni Morgan
Pick: Calbert Cheaney, SF, 6-7. Indiana
6. Washington
GM's: The Crossjammer
Jim Nagle
Pick: J.R. Rider, SG, 6-5, UNLV
7. Sacramento
GM: TODD FURESZ
Pick: Rodney Rogers, PF, 6-7, Wake Forest
8. Milwaukee
GM's: Brian Saunders
Morgan Edwards
Pick: Malcolm Mackey, PF, 6-11, Georgia Tech
9. Denver
GM's: John Exby
Rick Grubin
Pick: Ervin Johnson, PF, 6-11, New Orleans
10. Detroit
GM: Rob Skrobola
Pick: Alan Houston, SG, 6-6, Tennessee
11. Detroit
GM: Rob Skrobola
Pick: Acie Earl, C, 6-10, Iowa
12. L.A. Lakers
GM: Cliff Slaughterbeck
Pick: Bobby Hurley, PG, 6-0, Duke
13. L.A. Clippers
GM: Cliff Slaughterbeck
Pick: Vin Baker, SF, 6-10, Hartford
14. Indiana
GM: Doug Mraz
Pick: Scott Burrell, SG, 6-7, UCONN
15. Atlanta
GM: Kevin Metz
Pick: Terry Dehere, SG, 6-4, Seton Hall
16. New Jersey
GM: A. Borges Sugiyama
Pick: Douglas Edwards, PF, 6-9, Florida State
17. Charlotte
GM: Bren Bailey
Pick: Chris Mills, SF, 6-6, Arizona
18. Utah
GM: Michael Wendt
Pick: George Lynch, SF, 6-7, North Carolina
Next up:
19. Boston
GM: Orin Day
Craig Simpson - Usenet Draft Commissioner