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SALT LAKE CITY — The Jazz finished their third workout in three days with big name players they're hoping will fill their 14th pick of the draft. The foremost of those players is Dennis Schröder from Germany.
Schröder (also spelled Schroeder) has been flying up the draft boards. He was an unknown product playing for his team in Germany, then the Nike World Hoop Summit allowed the 19 year old to show off his skills on a big stage and now he is becoming one of the highest risers in the draft.
"The Hoops Summit helped me a lot," Schröder said. "My agent told me it was a very important week. So I go there and try to practice very hard. I can show the shows the scouts that I'm ready for the league, and I had a great game."
The comparisons for the young man has been Celtics' point guard Rajon Rondo. The similarities are mostly about their body types. They are both listed around 6-1, and have freakishly long arms. Schröder also has hands like a catcher's mitt. He loves playing basketball and loves to have the ball in his hand.
"Every time I got the ball in my hands it is a very good feeling," Schröder said.
He said that he doesn't know much about John Stockton, but he started playing ball at age 11, eight years ago, well after Stockton retired. Despite his limited knowledge of Jazz history, he thinks Utah is a good fit for his game.
"I think I try to give every time my best," Schröder said. "Try to lead the team and try to play defense and try to be successful."
He has worked out for Houston, Milwaukee, Dallas, Boston, Philadelphia and the Jazz. Utah was his last workout before he returns home for Germany. He reportedly received a promise from a team that they planned on drafting him and he would stop working outs. He has denied this rumor and has continued to work out with different teams.
Schröder has been "drafted" by the Jazz in several mock drafts, but said he doesn't pay much attention to those.
"No, my family told me, my big brother he looks at them sometimes, but I don't."
The choice on where he gets drafted doesn't belong to Schröder or the fans. Ultimately it belongs to the Jazz front office and the man there to evaluate was Walt Perrin, Jazz V.P. of Player Personnel.
"He fought through some things, he struggled a little bit early," Perrin said. "I think he finished strong."
Perrin said that Schröder has the ability to get into the paint and score or pass out. His explosion is what sets him apart and Perrin mentioned that specifically, but added that he has a lot to work on. He even talked about the comparisons with Rondo.
The comparison with Rondo is body build, long arms, big hands. Rondo was not an offensive player except for getting to the basket he couldn't, Dennis is a better shooter at the same stage. There's no comparison in terms of defense Rondo is so much better.
–Walt Perrin on Dennis Schröder
"The comparison with Rondo is body build, long arms, big hands," Perrin said. "Rondo was not an offensive player except for getting to the basket he couldn't, Dennis is a better shooter at the same stage. There's no comparison in terms of defense. Rondo is so much better."
While the general public might not be very familiar with the young point guard, Perrin said the Jazz have as much tape as there is on the kid. They also have scouts who have watched him play in Germany.
The 19-year-old point guard was the main attraction for the workouts, but there were some other players to keep an eye on. Two other players that could fill some of the Jazz's needs are Steven Adams of Pitt and Peyton Siva of Louisville.
Adams is a seven-footer from New Zealand who spent a year at Pitt before turning pro. He is another player that has gone up draft boards quite a bit over the last month or so. He was always looking like a first-round pick, but now he is solidly in the lottery.
He had come to Salt Lake during March Madness, but his Pitt team lost their first game to Wichita St. but said that he still isn't quite ready for the altitude and laughed about how different it was.
His decision to enter the draft was influenced by his family situation. Adams is one of 18 children. He could have easily headed back to Pitt for another year and improved his stock, but he wanted to help his family and get the next level in coaching.
Siva is a winner. He took Louisville to the National Championship and cut down the nets this year. While Siva isn't a solid six-feet, he has the intangibles the Jazz are always looking for.
"Peyton gives you everything, every time he steps on the court," Perrin said.
He doesn't have a great shot, isn't the biggest guy, but has the winning factor as a point guard that could help any team. Perrin said he would be a valuable member of an NBA team.
"Winners are very important to us," Perrin said.
The other players who were brought in were Kenny Kadji from Miami, a stretch-four who had an up-and-down season. Richard Howell, a forward from N.C. State and Jack Cooely, who was supposed to be in on Thursday, but a few delayed flights forced him to wait a day to get his chance to work out for the Jazz.
There is no word yet on the when or who will be invited for the next set of workouts. Perrin did say that he will see the media a lot more, so expect plenty more invites in the coming few weeks.
