Reader comments
Utah Jazz make their projects big ones

Yeah, like when the Jazz drafted Darrel Griffith over Kevin McHale. Learn from that one, did you Frank?

Mr. Big Mistake, do you really think Kevin McHale would have become the player he ultimately became had he gone to the Jazz rather than play with Bird, Ainge, DJ, and Parrish? His skills were a perfect compliment to THAT group. Last time I checked, Adrian Dantley was no Larry Bird when it came to being a team player. I imagine McHale would have been a player similar to Matt Harpring had he gone anywhere but Boston: predictable contributor, decent athleticism but not dominating, a hard worker but not a franchise player. Darrell Griffith was a pretty impressive shooting guard in his prime and in that draft there was no indication McHale would become a future all-star and hall of famer. If you know more than Frank, why aren't you in the business?

Don't give up on Fesenko too quickly. He's big & tall & strong as an ox, and despite being so young he does have skills to build upon. And I like his attitude. I'll be interested to see how in-shape he comes in this summer and how he does in the RMR. Fingers crossed.

Hopefully the Jazz will make more of an effort to fill the need for a big man through free agency or a trade. I realize we didn't have any high picks, but drafting a bunch of European projects is not the answer.

We need to get tougher and quicker on defense in the middle. These picks make us even softer and slower.

Nice. The Jazz didn't take a chance on Araujo. Chalk that mistake up to the Raptors. What the Jazz did do was unload 2 players in that trade. One in the trade itself then another with an expiring contract (which the Jazz did not opt for another year.)

Good big men are hard to come by though. I would have rather seen the Jazz trade away their draft picks for these big men that almost never pan out. Currently the Jazz have 3 big men projects. It is cliche but 1 bird in your hand is worth 2 birds in a bush- or something like that.

What more could you ask for with the 23rd pick? I was hoping that when Brook Lopez was slipping that he would have made it to 23.. but seriously folks.. the Jazz got a steal at 23.

The Jazz won't have room to sign any free agents unless they can open up roster room. They had 14 players signed for next season going into the draft, and any first round pick is guaranteed a roster position. If the Jazz want a new player, it will have to come after some trades.

The Jazz will probably pull off a great trade before too long to try to improve. If they cannot include someone like Jason Hart, they may have to do what they hate doing and "eat" his contract and wave him. The Jazz will definitely work hard on trying to make a trade that will allow them to improve. You must remember that both teams must feel that they will improve because of the trade (either immediately or in the near future).

I agree there was a poll on ESPN about Koufos being one of the two steals of the draft. He could develop
into what the Jazz want a defensive stopper, and add
that to an ability to shoot and we might have something. The only problem is that the agility
of say a Bynum makes the Jazz vulnerable to being
dominated by the Lakers...

Koufus is NOT a "European project". He was born and raised in Ohio!! He played for Ohio State!! He was their starting center as a true freshman replacing Greg Oden!! Koufus was actually projected to go much higher so it was a good gamble for O'Connor. What else do you expect with a #23 pick?!?! Please get a clue next time before you post.

I am from Alaska which, surprise, is a little off the pro sport beaten path but even I can see that this is the best the Jazz could do with what they had. They get a big man at 23 that they may possibly mold. They couldnt have asked for more. They use a bunch of worthless second round pics that they could have traded for future worthless second round pics. Instead they played the lottery and have the opportunity to find a european diamond in the rough ala Tony Parker, Manu Ginoboli, etc. Hmmm, wait, isnt this the type of drafting that the Spurs have done over the years? I think they did pretty good with that strategy.

Kousfus is definitely a steal at #23. He actually underacheived at Ohio State as a Freshman. He was one of the biggest recruits in the entire nation out of HS and was widely considered to be one and done. He is extremely skilled offensively.

Unfortunately, he is almost an identical clone of Okur. The Jazz don't have problems offensively. They need defense. Fesenko actually has all the skills they need, he just needs more time to mature. But you can't pass up a talent like Koufus. If he develops quickly, the Jazz could actually trade Okur to get that defensive presence.

The Jazz should have drafted DeAndre Jordan. Potential Dwight Howard...

Nice entrance line Rock. rymning someone's name with duffos. That is something I would have expected form a high school paper not a city paper.

Go to new york and become knicks fans where they have the right to whine and complain or situation is not that hopeless.

less not forget that are # 23 pick won M.V.P. of the N.I.T. championship.towards the end of the season his numbers were terrific and if you look @ his minutes played; he put up fabulous numbers.It's very important that sloan chills-out with the kid.take a page from frank layden and joke alittle coach.if sloan rides this kid like double zero(gerg o.), his confidence will erode & will be stuck with a stiff.sloan makes all young players sit the pine & get splinters in their %$# !!! he's doing the same thing with C.J. Miles..if this kid builds his confidence, the sky's the limit.sloan is ruining this great potential.0n March 31st C.J. pours in 29 points in 30 minutes with 5 assist.then the last 7 games of the season he plays an average of " less then 7 minutes " ; where to build his confidence sloan.coach's enthusiasm & passion for the game has diminished greatly over the last few years.a younger coach (ex-player) with fire, like the old sloan is what is needed soon.Finally the missing link to winning many rings in RAJA BELL.if we can't stop kobe,manu,tracey or roy,(which we can't)we'll never get to the top.HE PLAYS TUFF "D"

I am a Flash season ticket holder. All of you that think Fesenko is ready for the NBA are sorely mistaken. He is barely ready for the NBADL. He is slow, has small hands (= turnovers) does not have good court vision.

Remember that Koufos grew up playing Point Guard until he had a ridiculous growth spurt. Couldn't ask for better timing. Learn to handle the ball first then get big. Koufos will get more minutes next season than Fesenko...mark my words.

less not forget that our #23 pick won the mvp of the nit championship.towards the end of the season his numbers were terrific and if you look @ his minutes played,he put up fabulous numbers.it's very important that sloan chills-out with the kid.take a page from frank layden and joke alittle coach.if sloan rides this kid like double zero (greg o.),his confidence will erode & we'll be stuck with a stiff.sloan makes all young players sit the pine & get splinters.he's doing the same thing with C.J.Miles.if this kid builds his confidence,the sky's the limit.sloan is ruining this great potential.on March 31st,C.J. poured in 29 pts. in 30 mins with 5 assist.then the last 7 games of the season he plays an average of "less then 7 mins."; where to build his confidence coach.coach's enthusiams & passion for the game has diminished greatly over the last few years.a younger coach (ex-player)with fire(Jeff Horny.),like the old sloan is what is needed soon.finally,the missing link to winning many rings is RAJA BELL.IF WE CAN'T STOP KOBE,MANU,TRACEY,OR ROY,(which we can't)the JAZZ will never get to the top.RAJA BELL BRINGS TUFFNESS which is greatly missing.TEAMS WILL STOP THE FLAGRANT FOULS WITH RAJA AROUND !!!

Pistol-Pete, who would you have sat down in order to give C.J. Miles more minutes?

I always love when people say the Coach should play everyone more minutes?

Would you have played AK47 fewer minutes and then complained that Coach Sloan was "destroying his confidence"?

Would you have played Matt Harpring fewer minutes, knowing he is the one guy who gives the Jazz a little bit a defensive aggression?

Would you have played Ronny Brewer fewer minutes? Again I can foretell the cries of "destroying the confidence" of the young man by doing that?

Or maybe you would have played Kyle Korver fewer minutes, benching the Jazz' best shooter...

Face it, C.J. Miles is Number 5 in the depth chart at hte 2 positions he plays. He certainly could come off the bench for a number of teams and may be someone to look to trade, but he has been given his fair share of minutes.

Coach Sloan did once again a great and creative job by starting Miles to give him a chance to impress, which he did. It's something that almost assures Miles of a long NBA career, and he has Coach Sloan to thank for that.

Ok, hard workin, is now hardly working. He can't play defense and he isn't that great of a shot.. Miles had the best shooting percentage on the whole team, he is a good of a defensive player as anyone else on the team and he brings a spark. Lets face it, I believe most jazz fans would have been happy seeing him trading playing time with klinko rather that hardly workin. Isn't it enough how whenever klinko or h. workin would miss a few games the jazz would go on a run with C.J. I admit he is still young and makes mistakes, but this isn't the elks club basketball league. We need CJ. Time for harp to retire.