I have a love for basketball that would make Omar Epps stand up and cheer. When there’s an event, such as the NBA Draft, I clear the schedule, prepare the refreshments and kick back. I am a basketball nerd and I am proud to carry such a moniker.
Before the draft, I heard a lot of people saying the Jazz needed to get tougher and find another big man in case one of their top flight players left via free agency. As the Jazz’s pick neared, I thought the very same thing, but then I realized there would be no rookie availablewho could offer such a thing.
Tyler Hansbrough was off the board and DeJuan Blair, not having ACLs in either knee, was too much of a risk. The Jazz had to fill a need and they did just that.
With the 20th overall pick in last week’s draft, the Jazz selected Eric Maynor, a 6-foot-3-inch point guard from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Some fans might be asking, “Why would the Jazz draft a point guard when they already have Deron Williams playing 38 minutes a night?”
The answer: For the10 minutes Williams is not on the court.
Last season’s primary backup, Brevin Knight, left fans pleading for more. The veteran point guard severely underachieved by averaging five points, four assists and one steal less than his career averages. If that isn’t bad enough, each of his shooting percentages were at horrific lows and throughout the course of 87 games, he didn’t even make a single 3-pointer.
In short, when Williams took a breather, the Jazz did too.
If you’re anything like me, then you were this close to running a campaign for Ronnie Price to get into the game. But, for whatever reason, Jerry Sloan didn’t want to play him and he only logged 48, mostly garbage, minutes in the team’s final 30 games.
It’s hard to believe a game could be so affected by10 measly minutes but this is the area the Jazz had to address. Enter Maynor.
He brings with him a winner’s mentality and is a born leader. Maynor is known for his clutch shooting and the first time I heard about him was in the 2007 NCAA Tournament when he lead VCU over heavy favorite Duke. The game was tied at 77 with 10 seconds left when Maynor calmly walked the ball up the court, pulled up at the free throw line and drilled the jumper that won the game. It ruined my bracket but I knew this kid was going to be somebody.
Maynor is a two-time Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year and VCU’s all-time leader in points (1,953) and assists (674). He led his team to three straight CAA conference titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances. Each of his numbers improved dramatically over his four-year career at VCU and he averaged 22.4 points and 6.2 assists as a senior.
Of course, he will only be a rookie and he needs to add muscle to his skinny frame, but I truly believe Jazz fans will be satisfied with their new playmaker.
The Jazz also had the 50th pick in the second round of the draft. They selected 6’10” center, Goran Suton, from Michigan State.
The second round can produce some real gems and Jazz history is filled with productive second rounders. Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, Paul Millsap, C.J. Miles and Jarron Collins were all passed on in the first round but have made names for themselves.
Suton is known for his soft touch and outside shooting. He led the Spartans to the Final Four and championship game during this past tournament, and averaged 10 points andeight rebounds during his senior season.
I was a little upset with this pick because the Jazz are starting to stockpile the same player. Okur, Kosta Koufos and Suton all come from the same mold and offer the same things. Don’t get me wrong, I love Memo and what he brings to the team, but having multiple centers who prefer to shoot outside jumpers over playing on the block is not a recipe for success.
That being said, Suton was selected near the end of the draft and pickings are slim at that point. And who knows, he just might offer something the Jazz really need.
The draft can be a crap shoot. Playerswho are supposed to shine and produce in the NBA often don’t and vice versa. In recent years, the Jazz have had more hits than misses and I think we’ll look back at this year’s class as a hit.
Matt Sanchez