Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
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Jimmer Fredette drew a large crowd around his table at the NBA's Draft Week media availability this morning in New York City, attracting more attention than most of the higher-ranked players who will be joining Jimmer in the "green room" tomorrow night.
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You can hear Jimmer's entire 30-minute media session by clicking on the "play" button in the "Cougar Cuts" box to the right; you can also hear a conversation I had with Jimmer's Octagon agent Chris Emens.
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Emens had some interesting comments, saying that "since the get-go, we've been focused on teams we think Jimmer would be a perfect fit for."
That strategy led Jimmer to limit his workout schedule to five teams (Kings, Jazz, Suns, Pacers and Knicks), while turning down invitations for teams picking too deep in the first round ("it would be worthless" to work out for Portland, picking 21st, said Emens), or even top ten teams the Emens believed may not be a a great fit.
I asked about the Milwaukee Bucks, who pick 10th in the first round, and Emens said he believes the Bucks are committed to Brandon Jennings as their point guard of the future, and "it's our preference for Jimmer to play at his true position, which is point guard and to be able to at least have an opportunity to contend for that starting position in his early career."
Jimmer Fredette's Agent Chris Emens
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As to whether Jimmer-to-the-Jazz would be a "no-brainer" with the 12th pick, Emens said "if (the pick) gets to them; that would be my concern if I were the Jazz." Emens went on to add that "it does seem that there are potentially several teams in play that could trade their picks in the range before the Jazz."
The Sacramento Kings are interested in Jimmer with the 7th pick, and clearly Emens sees value in his client going to a franchise in need of a marketing and revenue boost.
"When you have someone who is as captivating and popular as Jimmer...there are very rare situations these days where a rookie can come in and significantly impact the bottom line, revenue and profitability of a franchise."
"And when you talk about smaller markets, or owners who aren't billionaires...just like in line with everything that's going on with the (projected) lockout, how can you not consider someone that makes a material difference to the profitability of your franchise?"
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Jimmer has been asked every imaginable question over the last number of weeks and months, but he patiently sat down for today's half-hour inquisition. Some of the highlights--
On the media crush:
"It's been great; I've had fun with it, and hopefully it continues in a positive way. This is what comes with the territory if you're going to be an NBA basketball player."
On rumors the Knicks might trade up to get him:
"That's great if they want me that badly...if they're able to make moves, we'll see what happens. Until it's a done deal you never know, but Mike D'Antoni is a great coach and it would be a fun team to play for, but we'll see...it would be a thrill; it would be a lot of fun."
On what team brass told him after workouts:
"All of them said 'you're actually more athletic than I thought you were...you're a lot quicker.' And that was my job, to go in there and show them that I'm kind of deceptive when I'm playing... you might not see the flashy being able to get by guys...I get by guys all the time but for some reason that goes unnoticed. It's all about going in there showing you can do it and playing against anybody that they put in front of you, and I thought I did a good job of that in the workouts."
On whether he can score as a pro the way he did at BYU:
"I don't know; we'll see. You never know if you're going to get that type of green light. Obviously, I had the ultimate green light at BYU, was able to shoot tons of shots. I think I can score the basketball at a high rate in the NBA; we'll see when that starts."
On what he'll do if there is a lockout:
"Just continue to work out; continue to try and get better as a basketball player, work on the things that I need to, and be ready when the moment comes."
On how Jazz fans would react if he were selected by Utah:
"I think they would love it; I think that's the consensus around there. Everywhere I go, if they're a Jazz fan (they say) 'I hope you go to the Jazz.' They kind of adopted me in Utah...we'll see how it goes, but I think they would really like it."
On the pressure of entering the NBA as a highly-touted prospect:
"I know that I'll have a target on my back I'm sure, going in, just with all the speculation. Those guys are competitive guys and they want to show that they're the best...and same here."
On the perception that he was or will be a shooting guard:
"I never really played shooting guard in college or in high school...so I don't know what people see, but I've always handled the ball...I've played point guard. In certain situations I can play off-ball, but (NBA teams) want me to be a point guard and they have that vision for me as well."
On the workouts:
"It's been a whirlwind...you go from place to place and show your best. I just had to be prepared going into them, worked as hard as I possibly could conditioning-wise--quickness and speed...show them I could compete and defend. It was a good experience for me, but it was definitely tiring and tough."
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