Burning questions — Jazz asking with 14th draft pick

In their fantasy world, whomever the Jazz select at No. 14 in Wednesday night's NBA draft will contribute immediately, make a difference right away and roll rapidly down the fast track to stardom.

In the real world, Kevin O'Connor is not about to kid himself — or anyone else — into thinking that's necessarily what will happen.

"I'm not sure, at the 14th or 15th or 16th pick . . . anybody's game is ready to come into the NBA," said O'Connor, the Jazz's basketball operations senior vice president.

That in mind, these questions arise:

• Just what can the Jazz expect at 14?

• Is 14 too high to pick a player who undeniably is a project and several years away from realizing his potential, or should the draft's final lottery pick be whomever is most-ready among those still not selected?

• Considering the number of the pick, does trying to fill a need at shooting guard or center make more sense?

History shows 14 is a mixed lot.

Hall-of-famer Clyde Drexler, taken 14th overall by Portland in 1983, was one of the game's all-time great guards, a 10-time NBA all-star and one of only three players in league history — along with John Havlicek and Oscar Robertson — to amass more than 20,000 points, 6,000 rebounds and 6,000 assists.

In the late 1980s, 14 produced Dan Majerle and Tim Hardaway — and both had careers lasting at least 10 years with three or more all-star-game selections.

Ten years ago, noted Jazz-killer and three-time all-star Peja Stojakovic was taken by Sacramento at 14.

The position, however, also has produced some real clunkers.

Rich King played just 72 games over four years for Seattle from 1992 to 1995. Yinka Dare, anyone? Didn't think so. And how can Jazz fans forget Kris Humphries, who went No. 14 just two years ago — and already has been traded to Toronto with Robert Whaley for fellow first-round bust Rafael Araujo?

No wonder the Jazz's expectation for whomever they land Wednesday is dialed back a bit.

"The ideal thing," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said, "is to get somebody that can play . . . and be a factor on your team — somewhere along the line."

Which raises the issue: project, or more-prepared?