Utah Jazz: NBA Draft is well stocked with big guys

SALT LAKE CITY — If they don't take a perimeter player with their No. 9 overall pick in tonight's NBA Draft, and there is a chance they will — Luke Babbitt, Al-Farouq Aminu, Xavier Henry, Gordon Hayward or Paul George anyone? — look for the Jazz to go big.

It is, after all, a big man's draft.

As much as 2009 was mostly about point guards — Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings, Jonny Flynn, Ricky Rubio, Ty Lawson, Darren Collison, Eric Maynor, Jeff Teague — 2010 is largely about power forwards and centers.

"Last year was, like, a saturation of point guards," Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said.

"I think in the lottery you're gonna see mainly big guys this year," Jazz player personnel vice president Walt Perrin added. "I think all the point guards were taken last year. This year seems to be predominantly 4-5s, with some wing players. There's no point guards in this draft."

Well, there's one. University of Kentucky point guard John Wall should go No. 1 overall to the Washington Wizards.

But beyond Wall, tonight's top 10 will feature mostly a bunch of bigs — including one who could call Utah home.

The Jazz's problem, though, is that the ones they apparently like most could be gone before Utah's pick comes around.

If Wall, Ohio State shooting guard Evan Turner, Syracuse small forward Wesley Johnson and Georgia Tech power forward Derrick Favors go top-four as expected, and Sacramento selects Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins at No. 5 as yahoo.com reports it will, then power forwards Greg Monroe of Georgetown and Ed Davis of North Carolina would both still be on the board at that point.

The Jazz supposedly would love to land lengthy lefty Monroe, especially since his super passing skills fit their offensive system to a T.

But he could go to Golden State at No. 6 — if, that is, the Warriors don't take Baylor big Ekpe Udoh instead, and if they don't trade their pick.

The Jazz also seem high on Davis, who could go seventh to Detroit — if Golden State doesn't take Udoh, leaving Monroe for the Pistons.

Davis is something of a project but, beyond a John Deere, there's nothing coach Jerry Sloan likes to tinker with more than a power forward who can play.