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SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Jazz invested more than 13,000 man-hours into scouting leading up to the 2011 NBA Draft. The team also paid about $20 million to get Enes Kanter and Alec Burks.
Jazz President Randy Rigby told KSL the morning after the draft, "We think we did a wonderful job. We think we've got some great elements that are really going to add to a young, exciting and very talented team."
The Jazz selected Kanter as their third pick and Burks at No. 12 in the Thursday night draft in New Jersey. Kanter is a 19-year-old, 6'11" center from Turkey and Burks, also 19, is a 6"10" sophomore guard from Colorado University.
Friday morning Rigby said Kantor has "great foot speed and moves very well."
"He likes contact. We felt we needed to be big, tougher, and we think we got someone very special with Enes Kantor. I think he's going to be a great addition to this team," Rigby said.
He added that the Jazz thinks Burks is very versatile. "We think he adds some scoring punch to us and very strong athletic talent as well."
Rigby also said the Jazz had a lot of interest in BYU's Jimmer Fredette, who was drafted by Milwaukee but is headed to Sacramento.
"He was in our sights as a top 10 pick," Rigby said. "We had hopes that maybe it could work out, but we have to respect that he was taken by Sacramento."
The biggest challenge for the Jazz this year is its youth, according to Rigby. "We've got a lot of young players that we acquired last year and then these new players this year. It's going to be a challenge for us to continually have them develop and progress in the NBA," he said.
"We have a great coaching staff that will teach them and build them," Rigby added.
To see his interview play the video.
