Jazz don't know what Pick 6 will hold

Kevin O'Connor can't understand the fuss being made over what so many sense is the Jazz's most apparent need in Tuesday's NBA Draft.

"You keep wanting us to take a point guard," he said. "I mean, just because we don't have any on the roster . . . I don't know why you're heading in that direction."

But if that indeed is where Utah is headed, O'Connor — the Jazz's senior vice president of basketball operations — has a rough road ahead as the final 48 hours before the draft approach.

Lottery luck dealt the Jazz a lousy hand, giving them the No. 6 pick as their top selection Tuesday. By then, the two points generally considered the draft's best — Wake Forest University's Chris Paul and Deron Williams of the University of Illinois — are expected to be gone.

That likelihood leaves the Jazz limited options.

One would be trading up to the No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4 spot — which they are believed to be trying to do, based on rumors of supposed trade talk between Utah and Atlanta, Portland and New Orleans.

Another is to take the draft's supposed third-best point, Raymond Felton of the national-champion University of North Carolina.

In any event, decisions must be made.

Would the Jazz settle on Felton at No. 6 — or would they look elsewhere, perhaps to either the draft's supposed second-best center, Arizona's Channing Frye, or its supposed second-best small forward, New Mexico's Danny Granger, who auditioned Saturday in Utah?

If they did land the Hawks' No. 2 pick (highly unlikely) or the Trail Blazers' No. 3 (supposedly for sale), and they had their choice of Paul or Williams, whom would it be?

If another team traded up for Paul at No. 3, and the Jazz got the Hornets to give them No. 4 (it's possible, since they supposedly also like native-son Granger), would Williams fulfill owner Larry H. Miller's stated desire for a difference-making point?

With those pointed questions in mind, let's break down just what the Jazz are looking at in Williams, Paul and Felton:

WILLIAMS THE MAN?

For the longest time, Paul was said to be the draft's top point prospect. Lately, though, the issue has been one of great debate.

"I rate Deron Williams as the best point guard in the draft," ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said. "He is bigger and stronger than Chris Paul, and is a vastly underrated athlete. Simply put, Williams knows how to play."

Williams is hailed for his ability to run a half-court set. He seems quite mature. He is called old-school, a throwback.

Accordingly, he seems ideally suited to running a Jazz offense that for the longest time was dubbed the same.