Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Jazz CEO Greg Miller joined KSL TV Sports Director Tom Kirkland live on SportsBeat Sunday to address all the pressing Jazz questions.
"I'm actually very optimistic and very encouraged about the players we have currently under contract and the resources we have to make the Jazz better and stronger and more competitive," Greg Miller said.
However, in regards to Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, Miller was less optimistic.
"I have to be honest with you, I have some concerns about his durability and his ability to play through some injuries. I'm not a doctor obviously, I'm not one to pass judgment on that. But as a fan, when I watch him as a fan, sometimes I wonder if he should be dressed and playing when he's sitting on the sideline."
With their upcoming draft lottery possibilities, Miller said the Jazz need to get bigger and pick up a legitimate scorer, which led me into asking Greg about Jimmer Fredette.
"He's a very exciting player to watch, very explosive. He can change the course of a game very quickly and if he's the best player available when it's our turn to pick, we'll have to take a hard look at him," Miller said.
I asked the Jazz CEO if there will be extra pressure to take Jimmer because of the local ties and the 'Jimmermania'.
"I've had an amazing number of unsolicited input, emails and tweets and otherwise about reasons we need to draft him, a few, why we shouldn't draft him, so he garners a lot of attention, more than I've encountered from any other player so far," Miller admitted.
Miller was quick to dismiss the notion of drafting Jimmer just to put fans in the seats.
"To me it's more important to win than put people in the seats, because if we win we're going to ultimately fill the seats anyway."
"Not necessarily specifically with Jimmer, but with any player, at some point the novelty wears off, and I think it wears off pretty quickly if the team isn't competitive, so my goal is always to be competitive first," Miller added.
Greg admitted that it would be a great story if it did work out with Jimmer. "Yeah, it would be really cool if it all worked out."
And also on the Jazz hierarchy, Miller talked about his conversation with NBA Commissioner David Stern.
"He (Stern) said, 'Your mom can still fire you right?' and I said, 'That's right,' and he said, 'I'm glad we understand that.' She's the Chairman, I'm the CEO."
The NBA Draft is Thursday, June 23rd in Newark, NJ. The Jazz will have two lottery picks (top 12). We'll know exactly when they pick after the NBA's Draft Lottery on Thursday, May 19.
The complete interview with Greg Miller from last night's SportsBeat Sunday is attached.
