Inside the NBA Draft: Power forwards/centers

BIG MEN

CREAM OF THE CROP

Georgia Tech big man Derrick Favors could go No. 3 to New Jersey. At 6-foot-10 and with good hops, he's pegged to play more power forward than center in the NBA. If the Nets take Syracuse small forward Wesley Johnson and opt to pursue a power forward (Carlos Boozer?) in free agency, though, Favors could fall to Minnesota at No. 4. And if the Timberwolves were to do something wacky, Sacramento should smile at No. 5. For the longest time, meanwhile, Kentucky forward DeMarcus Cousins was penciled in as a top-five pick. He's potentially high-reward, but supposedly high-risk, too, so now perhaps his range should be extended to top 10.

UTAH NOW

Two-time NBA All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer could exit via free agency — maybe to Miami, or New Jersey, or Chicago, or who knows where. If so, backup Paul Millsap may step in to start in his place — and someone, perhaps the pick, will have to back up the former backup. If Boozer stays, though, it could be interesting to see how things pan out with Millsap having to play a secondary role yet again. Starting center Mehmet Okur continues to recover from surgery to repair an Achilles tendon, which was torn in Utah's first game of the playoffs, and it's still unknown if he'll be ready for the start of the season. Backup center Kyrylo Fesenko is a restricted free agent, and he may or may not be re-signed. Reserve big man Kosta Koufos has done little in his first two seasons, so this could be a make-or-break season for him.

JAZZ TIME

The Jazz supposedly would love for strong-passing Georgetown big man Greg Monroe to fall to them, but he'll likely be gone by nine. North Carolina power forward Ed Davis could be gone, too; if not, Utah may take him. Shot-blocking Baylor big Ekpe Udoh, safe-pick center Cole Aldrich of Kansas and NBA-ready power forward Patrick Patterson all are being considered by Utah as well, but it remains to be seen if the Jazz would take a perimeter player before any of them. Marshall's wide-wingspan center Hassan Whiteside and Kentucky freshman center Daniel Orton seemingly have been ruled out at No. 9.

LOCAL TIES

Lanky University of Utah forward Kim Tillie, from France, worked out for Utah, Chicago and Milwaukee. He already has agreed to play next season for ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne, a well-known French Pro A League team, but hopes to play for an NBA summer-league team next month as well.

FANTASY PICK

In the second round, the Jazz take Ante Tomic, a 7-foot-2 Croatian center with superpowers. Oh, wait. They did that in 2008. Still waiting. He plays in Spain, for Real Madrid. He'll be there for at least one more season. Then the NBA All-Star Game. Olé.

e-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com