Utah Jazz 2011 NBA draft watch

Another look at what "experts" are predicting in the 2011 NBA draft.

"With the 6th pick the Utah Jazz select..."

Enes Kanter

Draftexpress.com : Enes Kanter | 6-10, 250lbs. | C/PF | International | 18 yrs old |
Kanter is what he is; an NBA ready big that plays with a lot of maturity and intelligence. He isn't a freak athlete or anything, but he has a thick body that when combined with his court vision and intelligence, will be a steady scorer and rebounder that will make him a starter at the 4/5 spot on almost any team that doesn't have an all-star already there.
Compared to Kevin Love.

ESPN.com : Harrison Barnes | 6-7, 212lbs. | SF | North Carolina | Fr. |
Harrison has come on as of late! He has rebounded back a little bit his high school charm of "the most complete wing since Kobe Bryant".
I feel strongly that he will go sooner than 6, but if he is still on the board at 6 don't expect the Jazz to take anyone else!

Jan Vesely

NBAdraft.net : Jan Vesely | 6-11, 240lbs. | SF/PF | International | 2o yrs old |
International guys always make me nervous. That being said, Jan is one of the most athletic "non-euro league type" guys I've seen (Youtube him!). By that I mean he plays aggressively and dunks everything he can! It's hard to gage weather he is as NBA ready as he looks, or if he is just dominating a soft league.
Don't take this the wrong way, but his game actually reminds me of a MUCH lesser version of LeBron James... I know, that sounds ridiculous. O.K., so then perhaps the 76'ers' "Iggy".
A huge wing that has quickness, but is still lacking the ability to play in the paint on a regular basis. Has the best shot in the NBA as a freakishly long SF rather than a PF.

-As of right now, the Jazz are still a few games out of the playoffs, and have th 13 pick in the 2011 draft.

 "With the 13th pick, the Utah Jazz select..."

Draftexpress.com : Harrison Barnes | 6-7, 212lbs | SF | North Carolina | Fr. |
No way Barnes slips this far, but if he does expect the Jazz to front office to be dancing in the streets of ESA!!! I really like the evaluations of http://www.draftexpress.com/, and think that they usually are the most accurate draft guys... I think they missed this one. BARNES WILL NOT BE HERE AT 13!

Kawhi Leonard

ESPN.com : Kawhi Leonard | 6-7, 225 lbs. | SF | SDSU | So. |
*I actually took this off of Chad Ford's top 100 list, because Jimmer is still the 13th pick on the mock draft, which I already reported on and don't think is realistic.
Kawhi is an NBA guy. I can't stress enough how much this guy reminds me of Gerald Wallace! It is one of the strongest compressions I have seen.
Leonard rebounds extremely well for a SF and plays that aggressive scoring wing so well. He is not a spot up shooter, but with his great athletic ability it would be a waste to spot him up! He gets to the rim well, but doesn't do it enough. His real strength is to rebound, put it back up aggressively and draw the foul. He needs to develop a go to move, and work on his ball control.

Brandon Knight

NBAdraft.net : Brandon Knight | 6-4, 183lbs. | PG/SG | Kentucky | Fr. |
This guy might be the biggest bust/all-star guy on the board. Some scouts say he won't even go in the first round while others say he will be gone in the top 10.
He can flat out score! he shoots very well from behind the arc, and has the quickness to get to the rim... although sometimes seems to not really know what to do when he gets there. His thin frame also makes him a great target for head hunter defenders.
I would not be disappointed with this pick at all. I would love to see a combo guard on the Jazz squad right now. With Harris on the court he could play off the PG and look to blow by slower wing defenders, or be the extra pass guy. His ability to defend the wing or PG is amazing as well. He's long and athletic, but can be pushed around by meatier guards (like D-Will).



My gripe about the title of "poor draft class":


This draft class has been considered a "poor" draft class... that to me is as silly as trying to predict how March Madness will turnout!
Although some seasons produce a clear #1, this season does not. That does not mean there isn't a big time NBA guy or multiple guys in this draft! Just like the tournament, Butler looked incredible, but no one would of predicted that.
I'm not just saying this because the Jazz might have 2 picks in the top 12, but that is frustrating.

The huge upside to this draft is I think there will be less "busts". It seems like there is a smaller amount of D. Cousins type guys, and more Greg Monroe type guys... both were high pick guys, but with Cousins you had a chance of landing a super star or a washout head case... Monroe had less upside, but a lot less possible downside too. Perry Jones, Harrison Barnes, and Enes Kanter are all that type of guy. NBA starters with potential to be a little more or a little less. That's why I like this draft class. If we can get two guys out of a solid and consistent draft class, odds are one of them is going to be pretty special.

I'll take that.