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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz have a fascinating draft history. For instance, one can't help but wonder what would have happened to the franchise had Dominique Wilkins played in Utah instead of Atlanta.
The "Human Highlight Film" was taken by Utah with the third overall pick in the 1982 NBA Draft. He was traded to the Hawks for John Drew and Freeman Williams. Whom, you ask? Exactly. It is considered one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history.
The Jazz have had their share of draft disasters (see the 2004 Draft) but they also struck gold several times with middle to late first round picks and even second round picks.
Here is a look at the five best draft picks in franchise history based on value.
Andrei Kirilenko1st round (24th overall) 1999 draft
Andrei Kirilenko never lived up to his six-year, $86 million max contract extension he received after his All-Star 2003-04 season. When you consider how late he was drafted in the 1st round and his 10-year career in Utah he has to be considered one of the Jazz best value picks.
When healthy Kirilenko was one of the most dynamic players in the league. He could impact the game on both ends of the floor. During that All-Star season he averaged 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals while shooting 80 percent from the free throw line. The next season he led the NBA with 3.3 blocks per game. Injuries prevented him from reaching his potential but he accomplished far more than most players selected 24th in the draft.
Paul Millsap2nd round (47th overall) 2006 draft
Every team passed on Paul Millsap in the 2006 NBA Draft, including the Utah Jazz. They chose Illinois guard Dee Brown with the 46th overall pick before taking Paul Millsap 47th.
Millsap led the NCAA in rebounding for three years in college at Louisiana Tech but his accomplishments went largely unnoticed. The Jazz took notice and their choice quickly paid off.
It was believed that Jerry Sloan refused to play rookies but Paul Millsap proved that was a myth. Millsap averaged 18 minutes per game as a rookie backing up Carlos Boozer and his hustle and hard nosed play earned Sloan's respect and quickly made him a fan favorite. An injury to Boozer during Paul's third NBA season thrust him into a starting role and he performed so well he almost made the All-Star team. When Boozer left via free agency Paul became the starting power forward and has averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds the past three seasons.
Jazz fans will never forget his 46-point performance leading the Jazz back from 22 points down to beat the Miami Heat. It was so good it's now referred to as the miracle in Miami. He scored 11 points in the final 28 seconds of regulation which included three 3-pointers and a buzzer beater that forced overtime. Not bad for a second-round pick.
If you redrafted the 2006 draft you can argue Millsap should have been a top five pick.
Mark Eaton4th round(72nd overall) 1982 draft
The Jazz found a diamond in the rough in the 4th round of the 1982 draft. He played just 42 minutes as a senior at UCLA but Frank Layden took a chance on him citing the fact that "you can't teach height". By his second season with the Jazz Eaton made Layden look like a genius.
Big Mark would become a two-time defensive player of the year, was named to the NBA All-Defensive team five times, lead the league in blocks four times and was named an All-Star in 1989
Eaton is one of the greatest defensive centers in NBA history. He holds the NBA record for blocked shots in a season with 456 in 1984-85. He also holds the career record for blocked shots per game with 3.5.
When he retired in 1994 only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had more career blocked shots and he is currently 5th all-time in career blocked shots.
His number 53 was retired by the Jazz in 1995. How many 4th round picks in NBA history can say that?
Karl Malone1st round (13th overall) 1985 draft
Karl Malone was expected to be taken much higher than 13th in the 1985 NBA Draft. He was so convinced that the Dallas Mavericks were going to take him with the No. 8 pick that he had already rented an apartment in Dallas. He watched as the Mavericks and 11 other teams passed on him before the Jazz chose him with the 13th pick.
He used the snub as motivation becoming one of the greatest players in NBA history. No one worked harder than Karl Malone and his hard work paid off for him and the Utah Jazz.
He was a 14-time All-Star, two time NBA MVP in 1997 and 1999, and was named All-NBA 11 times. His 36,928 points is the 2nd most in NBA history behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. No player in NBA history has attempted and made more free throws than Karl Malone. He never missed the playoffs during his 19 year NBA career. He is a two time Olympic Gold Medalist and a Hall-of-Famer.
I think Karl proved his point. No one remembers Keith Lee and Kenny Green but they will always remember the Mailman.
John Stockton1st round (16th overall) 1984 draft
The Utah Jazz can thank Jack Gardner for the landing the greatest draft pick in franchise history.
The former University of Utah head coach and Hall-of-Famer was working as a scout for the Utah Jazz in the early 80's and discovered a point guard out of Gonzaga named John Stockton.
The Jazz got a steal at No. 16 in the 1984 Draft.
He backed up Rickey Green for three years before becoming the starting point guard in the 1987-88 season. It was the beginning of the Stockton-to-Malone era and a Hall-of-Fame career. Stockton led the NBA in assists for 9 consecutive seasons averaging 13.1 assists per game during that run. He was a 10-time All-Star and made the All-NBA 1st, 2nd or 3rd team 11 times. He is the NBA's all-time leader in assists and steals and averaged a career double double (13.1 points, 10.5 assists per game). He also holds the NBA record for the most seasons, games and consecutive games played with one team in NBA history.
John Stockton is the only Hall-of-Famer in NBA history selected 16th in the draft. The next best player taken 16th in the draft in NBA history is Ron Artest. That's how improbable his career was.
You can't get better value than that.
Honorable Mention:
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Bryon Russell2nd round (45th overall) 1993Holds franchise record for three-pointers made in the playoffs with 126. Only John Stockton has made more three-pointers in franchise history. Played 9 seasons with the Jazz and was a key member of the 1997 and 1998 teams that reached the NBA Finals.
Shandon Anderson2nd round (54th overall) 1996
Anderson was a key member of the Jazz teams that reached the NBA Finals. He played 10 years in the NBA.
Mo Williams2nd round (47th overall) 2003
Williams averaged 13 points as a rookie with the Jazz but when the team failed to match an offer from Milwaukee he left via free agency. He had success with the Bucks, Cavaliers and Clippers averaging 16.5 points and 5.9 assists per game while shooting 39 percent from the three-point line. He became an All-Star with Cleveland in 2009 playing alongside LeBron James. Williams returned to Utah last season but was hampered by a wrist injury.
Greg Ostertag1st round 28th overall 1995
Many consider Greg Ostertag disappointing because he never lived up to his 6-year, $39 million contract but he exceeded expectations as a 28th pick. A look at the players taken after Greg in that draft might make you appreciate him more. He played 11 years in the NBA, 10 with the Utah Jazz and was a key member of the Jazz teams that reached the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998.
