[Editor's Note: The venerable MC Welk weighs in with an excellent prospectus on the choices facing the Jazz in the 2010 Draft.]
| PLAYER | UPSIDE | DOWNSIDE | APPROACH |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeMarcus Cousins | Derrick Coleman pt. 2 | The Mailman Flu pt. 2 i | Strength Coach Malone |
| Greg Monroe | Triple Threat in Flex O | Motor spits and starts | Jerry Tractor Tune-Up ii |
| Al-a-Freak Aminu | Versatile like AK47 | Tweener like AK47 iii | AK serves as mentor |
| X. Henry | Scoring wing w. “juice” iv | Not well-rounded | These things take time |
| Ed Davis | 12-foot max vert. reach v | Passive temperament | Roll the dice and pray |
| Ekpe Udoh | Offense and Defense | Too skinny to board vi | Glad he’s 23 years-old |
| Patrick Patterson | Boozer part 2 | Boozer part 2 | Who repeats history … vii |
| Luke Babbitt | Fits the stereotype | Curse of Kirk Snyder viii | Pass (please), need D |
| Cole Aldrich | More athletic Ostertag | = Joel Pryzbilla | Take if can trade down ix |
| Gordon Hayward | Magical NCAA run x | Looks like BYU Cougar | Utah in the PAC-12 now |
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Notes: The first three will almost definitely be off the board by #9; the last three will hopefully still be on the board after #9. Realistically the Jazz should select from Henry, Davis, Udoh and Patterson, any of whom would be palatable. If I were KOC I would roll the dice on Davis, but it’s not my money and he may be a project; moreover, Deron Williams wants to win now. Boozer and probably Korver are gone.
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- Derrick Coleman was notorious for missing games in which he would be facing the rough and tumble Karl Malone.
- Jerry Sloan is an avid antique tractor collector, particularly John Deere’s, on his farm in Southern Illinois.
- Andrei Kirilenko has often been frustrated with his role under Sloan; however, they have both matured lately.
- This is what David Thorpe says the Jazz needs; whereas, Kevin Arnovitz would like to see Monroe’s passing skills.
- His measurements approach those of “can’t miss” prospect Derrick Favors: 12’+ max. vert. reach is pretty rare.
- At least he was against Zoubek and the Plumlees in the NCAA Tourney. Admittedly I haven’t seen enough of him.
- Everyone thought the Jazz were going to select Boozer in the draft; instead they wound up with Curtis Borchardt.
- Kirk Snyder and Jay Humphries tested out as two of the best athletes in the draft (and later Ronnie Brewer) …
- I like Aldrich, I really do. I just think that #9 is too high for him: 50% better than 00 is still outside the lottery.
- Hayward’s Hoosiers made it through the West Regional in S.L.C. Still I fear his pro career will just rim out.
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saltcityhoops
This is not the Utah Jazz second top ten pick ever. 1980 the Jazz picked Darryl Griffith with the number 2 pick, 1982 Domonique Wilkins with the number 3 and traded him, 1983 number 7 Thurl Bailey, and 2005 Deron Williams with number 3.