[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

You might want to move Jeff Withey up in your mock draft. He just worked out with the Jazz, and from the interview it sounded like it went great.

He was not affected by the altitude!

He’s from Kansas. The same school that Greg Ostertag went too. Yes, it is true that when Ostertag played for the Jazz, I did not like him and nor did many other fans. But I have to tell you that if would have been a backup instead of a starter on their finals team, I don’t think I would have been too upset. I’d even go so far as to say, if he would have been a backup during their two appearances in the Finals, then the Jazz might have won at least one championship during their two finals appearances.

Withey would be a backup from day one, since they already have Favors and Kanter slated to start once Millsap and Big AL leave.

Wthey did average 4 blocks a game at Kansas. So his defense would definitely transfer and that is something the Jazz could definitely use in their backcourt. The Jazz could use a lockdown defender to put up against powerful bigman especially since they will likely have a very young team next year. They will likely start both Favors and Kanter, two recent draft picks in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

Walt Perrin (one of their scouts) said he could shoot the 15 footer, which means that he is not just a back to basket player. He is not just a player that shows up on defense.

He has veteran leadership. He is one of the older players in this draft. But that is not a bad thing. He brings leadership, experience, NCAA tourney experience as a matter of fact.

The Jazz look at their workouts as job interviews. If players do not act like it is in the interviews and workouts then the Jazz do not draft him. Withey mentioned that he treats workouts as job interviews!

He seemed like an even keel guy. He seemed like the perfect jazz player with a lot of attributes that the Jazz tend to look for in their draft picks. I was certainly impressed by just watching this interview and I think its very possible could draft him at 21.

If you ask me, I believe the Jazz will pick either McCollum or Larkin at 14 and then at 21 select Withey.

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

For those of you who would like to watch the interview: go to http://www.utahjazz.com. go to where the videos are posted. then find Jeff Withey’s workout interview. I believe it is like the 3rd one on their.
Here is the link, but if that doesn’t work then the directory path I gave you definitely will.
http://www.nba.com/jazz/video/teams/jazz/2013/05/13/DCstorymp4-2477332/index.html

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

For those of you who would like to watch the interview: go to http://www.utahjazz.com. go to where the videos are posted. then find Jeff Withey’s workout interview. I believe it is like the 3rd one on their.
Here is the link, but if that doesn’t work then the directory path I gave you definitely will.
http://www.nba.com/jazz/video/teams/jazz/2013/05/13/DCstorymp4-2477332/index.html

[KHAM83Participant]

We tend to throw out “too high” a little “too much”. At 14, the Jazz needs to take the best pg available bc that a need. And assuming that both Jefferson and Milsap leaves, which I expect, at 21 they just need to take the best big man available. I think Withey is a great pick, unless the feel Dieng fits better, or if Plumlee falls. There are times to take the BPA or the BPA for your needs. Jass are in the situation where the desperately need to add a pg and a big. Do not risk trading down to take these players in the “right spot” and risk missing out on them.

[KHAM83Participant]

We tend to throw out “too high” a little “too much”. At 14, the Jazz needs to take the best pg available bc that a need. And assuming that both Jefferson and Milsap leaves, which I expect, at 21 they just need to take the best big man available. I think Withey is a great pick, unless the feel Dieng fits better, or if Plumlee falls. There are times to take the BPA or the BPA for your needs. Jass are in the situation where the desperately need to add a pg and a big. Do not risk trading down to take these players in the “right spot” and risk missing out on them.

[KHAM83Participant]

Sorry for the typos….did this through my phone.

Jass??? SMH

[KHAM83Participant]

Sorry for the typos….did this through my phone.

Jass??? SMH

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

But as far as Jeff Withey, I heard a lot of Teams like him as a backup C, the Heat could certainly use him, he’s better than Pittman and Joel Anthony by far, could give Bosh back his spot at Pf too…

The Jazz have a good chance to get him at 21, but I think that’s a little too high for Withey to be taken ideally, especially if they don’t draft a PG at 14, the Jazz may be a good fit, but I think someone else will pick him up in 25-30 range…

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

But as far as Jeff Withey, I heard a lot of Teams like him as a backup C, the Heat could certainly use him, he’s better than Pittman and Joel Anthony by far, could give Bosh back his spot at Pf too…

The Jazz have a good chance to get him at 21, but I think that’s a little too high for Withey to be taken ideally, especially if they don’t draft a PG at 14, the Jazz may be a good fit, but I think someone else will pick him up in 25-30 range…

[thunderjerkParticipant]

I wouldn’t hate it, but it’s a bit of a reach. The Jazz are in dire need of a big white guy (I miss Fez soooooooo much).

[thunderjerkParticipant]

I wouldn’t hate it, but it’s a bit of a reach. The Jazz are in dire need of a big white guy (I miss Fez soooooooo much).

[rtbtParticipant]

Every year there always seems to be one or two big men in the draft with limited offensive skills, hence, they have little or no upside offensively. In light of players like this, there’s always been a debate as to whether you choose the best player available or draft for a specific need. There are no hard and fast rules but in general, here’s my philosophy.

If you’re in the top 10-15 always go for the best player available. One big reason is that NBA team rosters can change dramatically over a 2-3 year time frame.What you need this year may not be what you’ll need in 2 or 3 years.

If you’re above slot number 20 and you already have a good team, then draft for a specific need. If you’re between 15 and 20, it depends on the makeup of your team. If you have a decent roster than you can go for a specific player, but if you’re team needs an overhaul, then go for the best player available.

As for Withey, there’s very little upside and you know exactly what you’re getting. He’s a guy with few offensive skills but he can protect the rim and grab a fair amount of rebounds. As almost everybody in this thread already pointed out, that means he’s destined to be strictly a backup center. And on the right team, he could prove to be a valuable backup. I can see Withey playing 15-18 minutes, blocking 1 or 2 shots, and possibly getting 5-6 rebounds per game.

[rtbtParticipant]

Every year there always seems to be one or two big men in the draft with limited offensive skills, hence, they have little or no upside offensively. In light of players like this, there’s always been a debate as to whether you choose the best player available or draft for a specific need. There are no hard and fast rules but in general, here’s my philosophy.

If you’re in the top 10-15 always go for the best player available. One big reason is that NBA team rosters can change dramatically over a 2-3 year time frame.What you need this year may not be what you’ll need in 2 or 3 years.

If you’re above slot number 20 and you already have a good team, then draft for a specific need. If you’re between 15 and 20, it depends on the makeup of your team. If you have a decent roster than you can go for a specific player, but if you’re team needs an overhaul, then go for the best player available.

As for Withey, there’s very little upside and you know exactly what you’re getting. He’s a guy with few offensive skills but he can protect the rim and grab a fair amount of rebounds. As almost everybody in this thread already pointed out, that means he’s destined to be strictly a backup center. And on the right team, he could prove to be a valuable backup. I can see Withey playing 15-18 minutes, blocking 1 or 2 shots, and possibly getting 5-6 rebounds per game.

[Sewok15Participant]

I like pretty much everything you are saying but he won’t be blocking 2 shots a game in the NBA playing 18 minutes a night. Javal McGee who led the league in blocks per 48 minutes this season with 5.26 only averaged 1.99 blocks in 18.1 minutes per game. I think at best Withey will be like Greg Stiemsma who averaged 1.18 blocks per game in 15.9 minutes. Anthony Davis was the only rookie to even average 1 block a game last season. Ezeli, Zeller and MKG were all over .9 but averaging a block a game in the NBA isn’t easy. Only 34 players did it and LeBron James wasn’t even one of them.

As for the rebounding numbers they are a little high as well McGee averaged 4.8 RPG and Stiemsma averaged 3.4 RPG. Nobody in the league averaged even 5 rebounds per game playing 18 minutes or less per night. Only 3 players grabbed 5 boards a night playing under 20 minutes a night and they were Lamar Odom, Udonis Haslem and Andray Blatche.

I certainly think you have the right right idea about the kind of career Withey can have but the numbers you were expecting are unrealistic for even the best back up big men in the league.

[Sewok15Participant]

I like pretty much everything you are saying but he won’t be blocking 2 shots a game in the NBA playing 18 minutes a night. Javal McGee who led the league in blocks per 48 minutes this season with 5.26 only averaged 1.99 blocks in 18.1 minutes per game. I think at best Withey will be like Greg Stiemsma who averaged 1.18 blocks per game in 15.9 minutes. Anthony Davis was the only rookie to even average 1 block a game last season. Ezeli, Zeller and MKG were all over .9 but averaging a block a game in the NBA isn’t easy. Only 34 players did it and LeBron James wasn’t even one of them.

As for the rebounding numbers they are a little high as well McGee averaged 4.8 RPG and Stiemsma averaged 3.4 RPG. Nobody in the league averaged even 5 rebounds per game playing 18 minutes or less per night. Only 3 players grabbed 5 boards a night playing under 20 minutes a night and they were Lamar Odom, Udonis Haslem and Andray Blatche.

I certainly think you have the right right idea about the kind of career Withey can have but the numbers you were expecting are unrealistic for even the best back up big men in the league.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

I Can’t see Utah letting both Jefferson and Millsap get away…1 of them will certainly be back….

And as much as i like Favors,he’s been in the nba for 3 yrs now and hasnt shown that he can be consistent…

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

I Can’t see Utah letting both Jefferson and Millsap get away…1 of them will certainly be back….

And as much as i like Favors,he’s been in the nba for 3 yrs now and hasnt shown that he can be consistent…

[Sewok15Participant]

Favors isn’t consistent scoring the ball but he is consistent rebounding the ball. He averaged 14.7 rebounds per 48 minutes (12th in the NBA) and nobody in the league that averaged at least 7 boards a night played as few minutes as he did. He averaged the same amount of rebounds per game as Paul Milsap playing 7 fewer minutes per night. He also grabbed more offensive rebounds per night than Blake Griffin and Marc Gasol.

Enes Kanter was also ranked ahead of both of the starting big men in Utah in rebounds per 48 minutes and was tied for 25th in the league. So the Jazz would clearly be losing out on some offense from Milsap and Jefferson but they would actually be getting better on the boards by starting them. Everybody knows the only way big men will get better offensively is to play them so it makes no sense to have them coming off the bench forever if you aren’t a title contender. Both of these young big guys are only 21 years old so lets at least wait until they would have graduated from college before declaring they “can’t be consistent in the 3 years”.

The time is now for Utah to play these 3rd overall selections from only 2010 and 2011 respectively. It may seem like they have been in the league for a while but they are just scratching the surface. I would have no hesitation letting go of both Jefferson and Milsap because they have shown to be good but not good enough to get you out of mediocrity. Give the kids a chance!

[Sewok15Participant]

Favors isn’t consistent scoring the ball but he is consistent rebounding the ball. He averaged 14.7 rebounds per 48 minutes (12th in the NBA) and nobody in the league that averaged at least 7 boards a night played as few minutes as he did. He averaged the same amount of rebounds per game as Paul Milsap playing 7 fewer minutes per night. He also grabbed more offensive rebounds per night than Blake Griffin and Marc Gasol.

Enes Kanter was also ranked ahead of both of the starting big men in Utah in rebounds per 48 minutes and was tied for 25th in the league. So the Jazz would clearly be losing out on some offense from Milsap and Jefferson but they would actually be getting better on the boards by starting them. Everybody knows the only way big men will get better offensively is to play them so it makes no sense to have them coming off the bench forever if you aren’t a title contender. Both of these young big guys are only 21 years old so lets at least wait until they would have graduated from college before declaring they “can’t be consistent in the 3 years”.

The time is now for Utah to play these 3rd overall selections from only 2010 and 2011 respectively. It may seem like they have been in the league for a while but they are just scratching the surface. I would have no hesitation letting go of both Jefferson and Milsap because they have shown to be good but not good enough to get you out of mediocrity. Give the kids a chance!

[HobbyOGParticipant]

He looks like a Jazz player..would be a could pick for them

[HobbyOGParticipant]

He looks like a Jazz player..would be a could pick for them

[Mad MaxParticipant]

I would like the pick for Utah, I think that would be good value for #21, might be better players available but I think Withey will end up being a solid back-up or low-end starter. He provides good defense and shot blocking and a team player

[Mad MaxParticipant]

I would like the pick for Utah, I think that would be good value for #21, might be better players available but I think Withey will end up being a solid back-up or low-end starter. He provides good defense and shot blocking and a team player

[PabloFiascoParticipant]

The last thing Utah needs is another big man….they need a point guard and a small forward

[KHAM83Participant]

I think Hayward is more a sf, and I wouldn’t be so quick to give up on Burks yet. Jefferson and Milsap are both gone, Utah will need a big. It obvious that they will not pay Jefferson the salary to keep him, and may be willing to pay Milsap, but put yourself in Milsap’s shoes. Favors and Kanter are the future, why stick around when there are contenders out there that will love to bring him in as their starter? Philly, Houston, Indy and San Antonio are great fits with cap space. I can also see Brooklyn swapping Humphries plus other assets for Milsap in a sign and trade. Humphries and Withey off the bench is solid for Utah.

[KHAM83Participant]

I think Hayward is more a sf, and I wouldn’t be so quick to give up on Burks yet. Jefferson and Milsap are both gone, Utah will need a big. It obvious that they will not pay Jefferson the salary to keep him, and may be willing to pay Milsap, but put yourself in Milsap’s shoes. Favors and Kanter are the future, why stick around when there are contenders out there that will love to bring him in as their starter? Philly, Houston, Indy and San Antonio are great fits with cap space. I can also see Brooklyn swapping Humphries plus other assets for Milsap in a sign and trade. Humphries and Withey off the bench is solid for Utah.

[PabloFiascoParticipant]

The last thing Utah needs is another big man….they need a point guard and a small forward

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