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SALT LAKE CITY — The NBA draft is about two months away and that is the next big event for the Jazz to look towards. As time counts down there will be a weekly look at prospects at each position for the Jazz.
This week the focus will be on the center position. A lot of mock drafts have the Jazz taking a center. It might seem odd with the Jazz already having Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter on roster, but, assuming Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson don't come back, they will need a backup to help out.
These lists will be about players in the Jazz's range, so the top of the class won't be looked at too much. There might be a few changes as the lottery happens and the combine could slides players up and down, but here is an initial list of players to look at as the draft slowly creeps up.
5. Steven Adams:Fr. Pitt
He is a tall, foreign, athletic center who could potentially be dominant on the defensive end, but is still learning the game. Sound familiar? He is only 20 and would be a project. Sound familiar? He isn't Enes Kanter, but could become a similar player with time.
This would be a pick the Jazz would take with their later first-round pick. He would probably signify that the Jazz are fully committed to the rebuild process and not a "win now" thought process. He could give minutes because of what he can do on defense, but expect very little on the offensive side of the ball.
He actually could be a mixture of Favors and Kanter. He has athleticism and defensive prowess like Favors, but is raw and needs a lot of practice, much like Kanter was. He is a high ceiling low floor player. He could be a ten-year defensive anchor who changes games and at the same time he could become Kyrylo Fesenko who couldn't catch a ball and was always out of place despite his energy.
He is a solid 7-feet and plays as tall as he is. He has quick feet and gets blocks and rebounds on both ends of the floor. He is from New Zealand so he doesn't have a European touch or an American ego. He works hard on the court.
4. Jeff Withey:Sr. Kansas
A big defensive-minded center from Kansas. However, Withey isn't Greg Ostertag. He has slightly better offensive skills than Ostertag ever had. He is more coordinated, but won't be confused with Mehmet Okur or Hakeem. He can make shots, but probably shouldn't be relied on as a first option.
His strength resides in his defense. Using the Ostertag comparison again he is slightly shorter, but a lot leaner of a frame. He is right around 6-11 and weighs 230 lbs. He isn't tiny, but to really hold his ground he would need to add about 20 lbs. to make sure he can hold his spot. He has long arms and that helps him on both ends with his style of play.
He won't stretch defenses, but can finish around the rim with the best. He is 23 and could add immediately to a team, but this might be his ceiling. He is the opposite of Adams in terms of a possible low ceiling but high floor. This would be a very safe pick for the Jazz with their later first.
3. Gorgui Dieng:Jr. Louisville
He is an old underclassmen from the National Champion Cardinals. He is another big man with limited offensive skills, but could have a great influence on defense. He is 6-10, but has a 7-6 wingspan. The long and lean defensive type. He has enough bulk to hold his own.
If Haseem Thabeet is still playing Dieng will be in the league for years. If he can get a mid range shot in any capacity he could be a quality starter for years. As of now he should be a good backup center if nothing else. He has been slotted to the Jazz in a few mock drafts. He is also gone as high as a lottery pick to falling to the bottom of the first.
2. Kelly Olynyk:Jr. Gonzaga
There will be boos raining down at Energy Solutions if this pick is made, but Olynyk can be a very good player. This is the center pick that has been mocked to the Jazz more than any other it seems. He is 7-foot and is one of the few really polished offensive big men in the draft.
If Favors and Kanter can add the physical play down low then Olynyk can add the outside finesse that he brings. He will need to add some muscle, and might be more of a stretch four than a true center. As long as he's not matched up defensively with a bruising center, which are becoming extinct, he should be able to at least add some defense.
He has great hands and coordination. He isn't a great athlete and sometimes gets lost on defense. Could be compared to a less polished, although better passing, Al Jefferson.
1. Cody Zeller: Soph. Indiana
This is the big stretch for the spot. Zeller would have to fall in order to be in range for the Jazz, but he should be able to contribute right away, especially as a third big. He was thought to be a top-10 pick last year, but decided to stay in school. He didn't blossom as expected, but didn't take a big step back either.
He and Olynyk are close to the same prospect in terms of what they bring. Zeller is a tougher player who will fight for everything. A Jazz man in terms of his hustle and work. He can run the court, score and plays with a high IQ.
He has a high ceiling that will be stifled if he doesn't add weight. He is only 210 or so while playing at 6-11. That would put him at a sever disadvantage in the league and his body would take a beating. This wouldn't be a problem as the third big playing 20 minutes, but if he needed to play more minutes he might wear down.
He was a top-3 pick, then top-5, now lottery, if he slips through the scouting process he could be a steal with the Jazz's first pick.
Some players left out are Alex Len of Maryland and Nerlens Noel of Kentucky who will probably be gone well before the Jazz pick, barring a lottery miracle. Next week will be a look at power forwards.
