Inside the NBA Draft: Floor generals

CREAM OF THE CROP

It's not a particularly strong draft for high-ranked floor generals this year, which is fortunate for the Jazz, who are not in the market for a top-notch point guard. Cream of the crop is Ohio State's Mike Conley Jr., a probable top-10 selection who could go as high as No. 3 overall to Atlanta or No. 4 to Memphis — and probably wouldn't get past Milwaukee at No. 6. Conley is the son of 1992 Olympic-champion triple-jumper Mike Conley, now an NBA agent representing probable No. 1 overall pick and fellow Ohio State freshman Greg Oden. As many as seven other points are possible first-round choices, including Taurean Green, whose Florida Gators beat Conley's and Oden's Buckeyes in this year's NCAA title game. Other top college points include Associated Press first-team All-American Acie Law, who could go 11th to Atlanta; Georgia Tech's Javaris Crittendon; and USC's Gabe Pruitt. The top international point is Finland's Petteri Koponen, who could go late in the opening round or early in the second.

JAZZ TIME

Deron Williams. Need we say more? With Williams well-established as one of the NBA's best after just two seasons, and the Jazz having traded up to get him at No. 3 overall in 2005, it would be a real shocker if Utah were to use its No. 25 overall first-round selection on a pure point this year. One possibility is a combo guard who can both play some point and shoot 3-pointers out of the 2-spot, like USC's Pruitt. Eastern Washington's Rodney Stuckey also fits that category, though he'll probably be long-gone by 25.

UTAH NOW

There just aren't many minutes to go around behind Williams, whose primary backup last season was starting shooting guard Derek Fisher. That wasn't an ideal situation, but the Jazz made it work. If likely to be re-signed No. 3 point Dee Brown — a second-round rookie last year — can prove he's ready with a good summer-league showing, he may be groomed for the backup job. And if for some unanticipated reason Brown does not re-sign with Utah, look for the Jazz to perhaps sign a veteran reserve point from the summer free-agency market.

FANTASY PICK

Conley somehow slips to 25th, the Jazz pass on Morris Almond to take him, Oden freaks out and the Ohio State big man threatens to squash Kevin Pritchard with his pinkie finger unless the new Trail Blazers basketball boss agrees to trade 2006-07 NBA Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy to Utah for his little Buckeye buddy.

Still to come: Shooters (shooting guards/small forwards), Big Men (power forwards/centers).