Captain L – You still don’t have Whiteside in your final five jazz prospects?

If it is okay I would like to post the 5 prospects that should be available at #9 that I like:

1. Cole Aldrich
2. Patrick Patterson
3. Xavier Henry
4. Ed Davis
5. Hassan Whiteside

JazzinSLC who are your top 5 prospects that should be available at #9 that you like?

JazzinSLC, you said If Whiteside is a bust you’re no worse off. My concern is that if the Jazz don’t get better, Deron Williams will leave the team when his contract expires.
Is the potential of Whiteside worth risking losing one of the game’s best point guards? Chances are, the Jazz won’t have a pick this high for a while. I think you have to take as close to the sure thing as you can get.

I’m glad you started this thread. It seems like #9 is really where a ton of uncertainty starts to hit. I think most people agree that the following will almost certainly be gone-
Wall (100% gone)
Turner (100% gone)
Favors (100% gone)
Johnson (95% gone)
Cousins (90% gone)
Aminu (80% gone)
Monroe (80% gone)

After those 7, it’s really anybody’s guess. I think the other guy that is very likely to be gone by #9 is Patrick Patterson. (50% gone)
so, if I’m the Jazz then I know I’m going to get a chance at one of my 2 favorite prospects excluding the list above… so although it’s not important to have a 5 guy list, I’d go with the following-

Best case scenario (although highly unlikely) is that Demarcus Cousins falls to 9.

2nd best case scenario, Greg Monroe falls to #9.

Now, for who probably will e available.

#1, Luke Babbitt- I really think this kid is going to have an excellent NBA career. I think his career shooting percentages will translate nicely, and I think he has the work ethic to gain the agility to guard the 3, and the strength to guard the 4… that will take a while to develop, but as long as he’s willing to fight in his first year, I think he’ll get some playing time and average 12 and 6 his rooke year. I think he’ll end up being a VERY GOOD third option on a team that competes for a championship. I personally think he’ll be a borderline all star for a long time. You think I’m crazy but I’m still right, so there. 🙂

#2, Patrick Patterson- A good replacement for Booz. If Booz leaves, Patterson would probably be a 14 and 6 guy for the Jazz in his first year. Like Babbit, he has “Jerry Sloan guy” written all over him. He might be similar to Millsap, but I think the two would play well together in a small ball lineup.

#3, Ekpe Udoh- this guy is going to have a very solid NBA career, but not amazing. I see him being a carer 10, 6, and 2 guy… for an average NBA team. I like him, but I don’t think I’d ever want him to be my starting PF. He could make a decent 20 minute a night guy who splits time between the 4 and the 5… which really might be what the Jazz want.

#4, Hassan Whiteside- I only take him if the Jazz feel that the maturity issues are really just media driven and the guy actually is an alright guy who is just young. If the Jazz feel that he is not someone who is willing to accept his role as a low post player, they should not consider drafting him.

#5, Cole Aldrich- He’s going to be a very good center in this league for a long time. He’s not Todd Fuller and he’s not Greg Ostertag. If he stays healthy he could potentially be a Kendrick Perkins type defender who consistently averages 13-15 ppg… but I think he’s more likely to be a 12/8/1.5 guy on a mediocre team…. I personally wouldn’t consider him unless the Jazz trade down and he’s available at 16 or later.

I’m not really sure there are any sure things either, but that’s why I said “as close to”. There are however, several players with less question marks about maturity, work ethic and coachability. I would rather see the Jazz go in that general direction: Aldrich, Udoh, Babbitt, Henry, George.

I don’t think Monroe will be there at 9, but even if he were I think I would take Udoh, I’ve tried to look at everything I can about all these guys and I like his game the best. Udoh can handle the ball very well for a 6’10 guy, he passes well, can hit outside shots out to the college 3, he can create his own shot going left or right, he’s unselfish, he can rebound (led big10 & big 12 in rebounding), he loves to play defense and block shots ( we need that). He needs to gain a little weight and get stronger but so do almost all the rookies. Udoh gives us the height 6’10”, length 74.5 wingspan, and defensive presence we need at the PF spot.
Monroe although a very good player, doesn’t block shots, isn’t known for his defense, he can’t create his own shot like Udoh, he does have good handles but not in the same way. He is a very good passer, and a decent rebounder. He is alittle bigger but has a shorter wingspan. Not very athletic.
Patterson is tough and I like him but I want the things Udoh brings to the table. Patterson has developed a decent outside shot , Is a decent low post player, rebounds OK, not a great shot blocker, works hard tough and would be a good fit in Sloans system. Udoh is just a little taller and longer and better defender. (slightly).
Davis is the player I can’t see why people like so much. If you read about him he is very limited offensively, he plays more like a center than a PF and he doesn’t have the body to play PF or Center. He is narrow shouldered, slim, weak, and I don’t know if he can gain the weight and strength needed. He is a good athlete with one of the best verts among PF’s but they say he is alittle stiff. Much more of a project than Udoh, Monroe or Patterson.
Whiteside, probably 3 weeks ago or so I was really high on Whiteside, I watched his highlight videos and thought, this guy could really be the ticket we need. But since then I have read way too many articles that tell me he is a bust waiting to happen. Highlight videos can be misleading. The reports are that he is weak, won’t fight for position, takes plays off, takes bad shots, poor decision maker, arogant, I can’t even remember all the negatives but it was enough to make me back off and say maybe not. If we could get him in the 20’s, maybe he would be worth the risk. We don’t get in the lottery very often and a pick at #9 is too high for Whiteside. (In my opinion)
To me if the Jazz decide not to go for a PF, they need to pick Babbitt. We need to get taller and longer at both the PF and SF positions (not counting AK). CJ had to play SF last year alot and he is better suited to play the 2 spot. Babbitt would give is a 6’9″ player with very good hops and good length at the SF position. He has a very good offensive game, he can shoot from pretty much anywhere, he can dunk, has very good handles and can get his shot of the dribble going either way. If we can’t get the PF we need, I think Babbit would be the perfect fit at SF for the Jazz.