Draft day alternatives
Jazz select power forward, guard after run on big men drains pool
One big man gone, one big letdown.
Before Utah's first turn to pick rolled around, two more trees would fall Latvian Andris Biedrins going at No. 11 to Golden State, 7-foot California high school star Robert Swift at No. 12 to Seattle.
That's why the Jazz worked so hard for so long to move up.
"We tried like heck to," Jazz basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor said later, "especially when we started to hear rumors about who was going up (higher)."
By the time O'Connor emerged from hiding, however, he was singing happy tunes about the two picks Utah did make, University of Minnesota power forward Kris Humphries at No. 14 and University of Nevada swingman Kirk Snyder at No. 16.
And when there was a sour note, O'Connor tried to make it sound better.
"I think that in our positions," he said, "we got kids that maybe there's some questions about, but physically (they) have the talent to be successful in the league."
In Humphries, the Jazz get a 6-foot-9, 235-pound 19-year-old who was the Big 10 Freshman of the Year this past season.
His college coach, Don Monson, calls him a young Karl Malone, a heavy burden especially considering Malone, the No. 13 pick in 1985, is merely the second-leading scorer in NBA history Humphries doesn't seem to mind.
"Being compared to someone like that is a special thing, you know," he said after Utah took him. "Karl Malone is a great player. You know, NBA hall-of-famer. So, I hope to be like him one day. But I've got a long ways to go."
Humphries, a Minneapolis native, even claims to have followed Jazz basketball for quite some time: "I'm a great fan of Coach Sloan, John Stockton, Karl Malone. I had a feel before I came in (to work out for the Jazz), and felt even better when I left."
Fans at the Delta Center seemed to love the pick, cheering loudly when team president Dennis Haslam made the announcement.
But the knock, coming from one ESPN analyst, was this: Humphries was a "me-first" player for the Gophers.
"I've heard all the comments that Jay Bilas said and had about the player, and he's got every right to say that," O'Connor said, "but we disagree with it. We think he's going to be able to adjust to our system.
"We've checked with people who've coached him in junior high, we checked with people who coached him in high school," he added. "You know, if you watched his team play last year to blame a freshman for not winning the Big 10, that's kind of a tough shot."
Comments
- Attempted murder case refiled 1:58 a.m.
- Sports on the air 1:38 a.m.
- This weekend on TV 1:38 a.m.
- Birthdays for Saturday, July 11 1:38 a.m.
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza 1:37 a.m.
- S.L. man spots stolen car — his 1:23 a.m.
- Girl critical after run-in with train 1:23 a.m.
- Probe of death treated as slaying 1:22 a.m.
- Taylorsville man arrested in robbery 1:21 a.m.
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love' 1:20 a.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- Teacher faces new sex charges
- Cash for Clunkers to get rolling soon
- S.L. man spots stolen car — his
- Jazz rookies quiet Thunder youngsters
- LDS seminary principal arrested
160 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
99 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
Here's BYU's press release on Jonathan Tavernari's big game for the...
Two California high school receivers have given the University of Utah
I love Millsap, and the Jazz will find a way to move Boozer and match for...
i think its childish to assume that somebody would actually want to get...
Millsap and Boozer need to stay in Utah. Millsap is Boozers backup while he...
Childish and immature? Its always easier being ignorant and presuming things...
can you use words like testimony and church leadership to critisize a...
Bro P really helped me through a tough time in my life when I had him in...
These are only allegations at present, but I hope when he goes to trial, the...
My thoughts are with the Pratt family right now. Michael I hope you are...
It is interesting that everyone who seems to be a member comments on how nice...
You presume, simply because they were gay, that they were trying to "stir...




You can be the first to comment on this story.