Utah Jazz remain mum on selections for draft

SALT LAKE CITY — Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor was impressed by the level of effort displayed during the team's first workout of draft prospects.

"We saw a lot of good competition," O'Connor said. "Guys got after each other pretty good today."

Whether that means any of the six players in attendance — none of whom are projected to go before the Jazz's third and 12th picks — will be drafted by Utah on June 23 remains to be seen.

And good luck trying to pry that information out of O'Connor. Though he spoke for 15 minutes, he offered up six "no comment" answers during a media interview Sunday in regards to specifics about the draft.

Do the Jazz think Kyrie Irving or Derrick Williams will be available at No. 3? Is Utah looking for a point guard to groom? Are any of this workout's attendees — Norris Cole, JaJuan Johnson, Dallas Lauderdale, Shelvin Mack, Markieff Morris or Jeremy Tyler — in the No. 12 range?

"No comment," O'Connor repeated.

O'Connor only offered up that the Jazz are keeping their options open, that they are doing their homework on all of the prospects and that they won't pass up Michael Jordan if his name is on the board.

"I think you take the best player available," O'Connor said. "In this draft, I think you look at it and say, 'Who's the best player available?' and you take him."

O'Connor did give some insight into what the Jazz are looking for from a player:

"How hard do they play? How successful can they be in our league? And what kind of character do they have?" O'Connor said. "After that, everything else is on the periphery."

The Jazz will hold their next round of workouts Tuesday, although they haven't released names of participants.

Utah brass will meet with Turkish standout Enes Kanter, a 6-foot-10 center many mock drafts have going to the Jazz at No. 3. O'Connor brushed off how Kanter canceled an interview opportunity with Utah — and other teams — at the Chicago combine.

"It was a lot about nothing," O'Connor said of speculation surrounding Kanter's decision, which some took as him not wanting to play for the Jazz. "He felt uncomfortable because of his background because of his language to sit down for 16 interviews."

But Kanter did take part in the camp's drills, which impressed O'Connor.

"He did something to me that obviously no other player has done, and that's work out there at his draft quote-unquote status," the Jazz GM said. "We'll get a chance to sit down with him and have coach with us and get a chance to see him."