I never had the opportunity to throw my thoughts out on Friday's Jazz Nets game. I know most have moved on but I feel that I may need to express my thoughts to Jazz fans before I move on as well.

What bothers me most about the ESA booing Deron is that I believe that it could have been prevented by the Jazz. A simple video reminder could have done wonders to remind Jazz fans why we loved Deron for so long. Nothing was done in the arena for Deron before the game started. I heard that Root ran a bunch of Deron and Memo's key highlights which brought a few of my passionate Jazz friends to near tears but nothing was run inside the arena.

Why couldn't the Jazz run a video to soften the Deron blow? I mean, seriously? Kendrick Perkins got a video which lead to a standing ovation. Hell, even Chucky Hayes is getting a highlight video? You telling me that Perkins and Hayes meant more to their teams than Deron did to the Jazz? A highlight video would have been a nice gesture that would have certanly soften the blow.

Sometimes fans need reminders. He did ALOT of good for this community. Help remind the fans of the good times!

Also, I don't remember seeing Greg or Gail sitting in their normal seats. Why would this be? Something more important to do? Wanted to avoid that awkward moment where Deron stares you down as he gets pelted by boos? Showing up and clapping would have been a fair, polite gesture. Greg should have taken the lead in saying THANK YOU!

Too heated now. I'm done. Go Jazz!

Ps. I got D-Will to sign my jersey before the game (made the NBA.com Jazz/Nets highlights too. I'm at the 20 sec mark!) I was holding onto that #8 jersey for the next Jazz season ticket holders signing date. Deron got traded before it happen. The jersey now hangs next to my Stockton and Malone Jerseys as my favorite Jazzmen.

Pss. As I walked into the arena, a sketchy ticket scalper asked me if I brought my jersey to rip it up in front of Deron. I shuck my head and said that I love Deron and there was no need for that. Little did I know that I was in for a disappointing night.

Took this off of a friends Facebook status and felt it was worth sharing!

Kid 1- I'm a Utah jazz fan cuz my mom is a Jazz fan and so is my dad.

Kid 2- Well if your mom was an idiot and your dad was an idiot what would that make you?

Kid 1- A Lakers fan.

I'm missing the Jazz too soon. Normally this doesn't happen until July but I am excited to watch the kids grow into stars! Thanks for everything you do BBJ!  It's great to have slcdunk.com to get through the slow summer days! Go Jazz!

There are two ways to build a team: via Free Agency or via the Draft.

Since the Jazz have been in Utah, they have only had to build the team twice.

First time was in the 80’s.  They did it through the draft with players like Griffith, Eaton, Bailey, Malone, and Stockton.  We lucked out and drafted a couple of Hall of Famers that gave us two decades worth of championship caliber basketball.

The second time was mainly through Free Agency with one high Draft Pick.  The Jazz were able to bring in Memo and Boozer as Free Agents and we traded up in the draft to grab Deron.  This team gave us multiple 50+ win seasons and a trip to the Western Conference finals; however, this team has now moved on from us.

The debate between rebuilding through the draft or free agency has never really been an issue in Utah.  We’ve actually been pretty lucky considering the fact that “no free agent wants to play in Utah.”

What is amazing about the Deron William’s trade is the fact that we can rebuild without having to sit through multiple bad seasons for high draft picks.

From Deron we got Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, and two First Round Picks.

Harris was the fifth overall pick in 2004 while Favors was the third overall this year.   The Nets pick is for this upcoming draft and should be between #1 - #6 overall.  The Warriors pick will probably be around #7 - #15 overall.

To sum this up:

If we make the playoffs we end up with four lottery picks on our team (we lose our 2011 draft pick to Minnesota for the Al Jefferson pick.)  If we miss the playoffs we end up with five lottery picks.

Potentially on our team for the 2011-2012 Season the Jazz will have:
#5 Overall – Devin Harris
#3 Overall – Derrick Favors
#9 Overall – Gordon Hayward
#1 - #8 Overall – 2011 Draft Prospect
#1 - #14 Overall – 2011 Draft Prospect (Top 14 Protect if we miss Playoffs)

We are going to open the 2012 season with four (maybe five) lottery picks!  Considering that we didn’t have to suffer a bad season for any of them turns Kevin O’Conner into a NBA genius.  (Well, that is if he can get the Nets pick right!)

I am a believer that if you want to win an NBA championship you have to have high draft picks.  The Deron William’s trade gives us that opportunity!

I created the following video last night and wanted to post a few more thoughts on it.

Utah Jazz Expectations (via sportsutahnet)

It's been the most up and down season that we have ever experienced as Jazz fans. We get off to a perfect preseason. We win in Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, andCharlotte . But then we go on a losing streak, lose our coach, and go on another losing streak. Emotions for me have taken over. Everything that I thought that I knew going into the season has been destroyed. Were my expectations as a Jazz fan too high? Lets see:

Expectations vs Reality

Expectation: The Jazz make it into the playoffs and possibly advance a few rounds.

Reality: We are a borderline playoff team and headed in the wrong direction.

Expectation: Coach Sloan roams the sideline forever.

Reality: Coach Ty Corbin is roaming the sidelines. (I do believe in Ty but he's not on Jerry's level yet.)

Expectation: Deron Williams to enjoy playing like an All Star in a Jazz jersey.

Reality: Though Deron will be enjoying his second All Star appearance this weekend, he has been struggling as of late. 

Expectation: The Jazz to be untouchable at home.

Reality: 17-13 record at home.

Expectation: Jazz fans to enjoy Jazz basketball.

Reality: I don't.

I am an upperbowl season ticket holder.  I've probably been to over 150 games over the last five years and will renew my tix for next year.  I will support my team to the end.  I just know that it may be painful to do so for the next few years.

Sad days

This was my last greiving moment.  I can now officially move on into the Corbin Era.

#random I ran into an article by the Bleacher Report entitled Utah Jazz: The Perennial Uprising of C.J. Miles and it got me believing that the Year of C.J. has finally come. Who would have thought that C.J. would get props from a national blog? #whatupdoe

Deep inside I have always thought that once C.J. figures the NBA out he would fulfill Larry H. Miller’s prophecy to David Stern that "C.J. would be a future star." Larry’s optimism excited me and since then I have been a solid supporter of #34.   

Here are a few of the quotes that I most liked from the article:

If you look at C.J. Miles's career stats, you wouldn't think much of them. At least until you look at this past season's playoffs. In the playoffs Miles averaged 14 points in 33 minutes. Oh, and don't forget that Miles had Carmelo Anthony, Ron Artest, and Kobe Bryant guarding him the entire time.

I'm not saying that this is Miles's breakout year. I believe that already happened at the end of last season. Once he received minutes, he put up impressive statistics, which gave him confidence. Since the Jazz lost the shooting spark in Kyle Korver, they are going to look more to Miles for three-point shooting.

Miles will likely play 33 to 35 minutes per game next season. Because he won't have three of the best defensive players in the game guarding him the whole time, he is going to put up better stats. Add that along with his that silky smooth left-handed jump shot, the high-flying entertainment (not to mention that block on Fisher), C.J. Miles is one of those players that if he was treated like a star, he could put up star-like numbers.

C.J. might be the key piece we need to get over the top.  We’ve gotten bigger (Al), tougher (Raja), and now we need that consistent scorer from the wing.  "If he was treated like a star, he could put up star-like numbers."  If C.J can consistently put up 15-20 ppg from the wing, I believe that Jazz would be close to a 58-60 win team and destined for a long run in the playoffs.  Is it C.J. that holds the keys to the Jazz’s future? #dudeitstrue

We’ve seen C.J. progress from Dumb C.J. #fail to Smart C.J and hopefully this is the year that we go from Smart C.J. to Super #Doe. #crapsuperpowers

#shoutoutfri @cjmiles34 

Its been a busy summer and, after today, things are finally starting to look bright.  I'm a believer that we will see great things from the combo of Williams and Jefferson (ninja to big al?) But I still think that a third star needs to be developed if we are going to compete for a title.  That is why I am jumping on Gordon Hayward's bandwagon and supporting this Jazzman to the end.  For starters, i've put a few things together to show my loyalty.

Flash Gordon Hayward Utah Jazz (via adijacjak)

As it should be, the ninth pick of the draft has been on everyone’s mind.  If the Jazz continue with their winning traditions, we may never see a pick this high again (knock on wood.)  Everyone seems to want to draft for need and snatch the first BIG that falls to us.  I admit that the C position is our main weakness and I would love to use the pick to fill the position.  However, I am not sold that the center talent is that great for the ninth pick.  After Cousins and Monroe are taken, there isn’t a single guy that excites me.

So, what else is there? 

To remind us, our team is a bunch of second round scrubs not lottery glamour girls.  We seem to know how to find that diamond in the rough and quickly they have become fan favorites.  So, why not continue the tradition and look to the second round for our big?

Upon doing a little research… there is a whole lotta size (Dexter Pittman), youth (Ryan Richards) and possibly talent (?) in the second round. 

Could our next Collins or Fes be one of these guys?

From DraftExpress:

Jerome Jordan  C
23 years old; 7'0"; 235 lbs.
Tulsa, Senior

One of the more unique prospects in this year’s draft in terms of sheer physical tools and upside, Jerome Jordan only started playing high level basketball about five years ago as a high school junior after he moved to the United States from his home country of Jamaica. Incredibly raw when he first stepped on campus at Tulsa, Jordan has consistently improved his skill level each year in school, with his offensive production along with it.

Artsiom Parakhouski  C
22 years old; 6'11"; 260 lbs.
Radford, Senior

Draft Express has us currently take him.

Probably the best showcase of Parakhouski’s potential physical impact at the next level was his matchup against fellow prospect Cole Aldrich and the Jayhawks. Parakhouski was bothered by Aldrich’s length on a number of occasions, but saw success against him when he was able to establish deep position. On a number of possessions, Aldrich forced Parakhouski to be a finesse player, something he’s shown the potential to be, but not with any sort of efficiency.

Dexter Pittman  C
Texas, Senior

Dexter Pittman is quite a unique physical specimen in his own right, measuring 6-9 ½ without shoes, with a 7-6 wingspan. He also has the biggest hands in this draft (a new stat) at 10.5 inches. The fact that Pittman tips the scale at over 300 pounds and measuring nearly 21% body fat (fourth highest in history after Chris Marcus, Oliver Miller and James Lang) tells us that he still has a long ways to go with his conditioning. But if he’s willing to commit himself, he could carve out a long and lucrative professional career.
22 years old; 6'10"; 310 lbs.

Hamady N'Diaye  C
23 years old; 6'11"; 225 lbs.
Rutgers, Senior

Rutgers center Hamady N'Diaye had one of the better camps of any of the big men in attendance here, establishing himself as a player teams in need of a backup big men should look at considering his rare physical tools and terrific activity level. N'Diaye is a raw, 23-year-old center with average hands and conditioning who is known primarily as a shot blocking specialist, but may be able to find himself a spot on the end of a team’s bench as an energy guy and defensive presence.

Ryan Richards PF/C
19 years old, 6' 10" 225lbs.
Kalise Gran Canaria

Ryan Richards capped off a spectacular weekend from his perspective, measuring 6-10 ½ without shoes, with a 7-1 ½ wingspan. Even though he has struggled to find a long-term home for himself in Europe, the 19-year old could very well be drafted in the second round and stashed for a year or two in the D-League. Richards is one of the biggest mystery prospects in this draft after playing in Switzerland this past season. NBA teams won’t have the luxury of evaluating him at the adidas EuroCamp in Treviso from what he told us.

Only eight days away to the draft!

Rumors out of Philly are suggesting that the Sixers are interested in trading the #2 pick to someone willing to take on Elton Brand's untradeable contract ($51 mil over three years.)  Now, my argument is that if this is true, the Jazz should jump on this.  Yes, it's another bad contract but it allows two top ten picks to come to Utah plus it allows for a quick replacement of Boozer.

Brand in Philly has been a disaster.  He has had injury issues and has yet to incorporate himself into the Sixer’s style of play. If he came to Utah, I believe that we could see traces of the player he was in L.A. plus he would over more defense than Boozer.  

To bring Brand and the #2 pick to Utah another player matching Brand's contract would have to be involved.  AK is a perfect match.  So, basically we would lose AK's expiring contract, not sign Boozer, pick up two 10 picks meaning the Jazz would be set up to destroy the rest of the NBA for the next 5-10 years. Oh, did I mention that without the contracts of AK and Boozer it would put the Jazz under the Luxury limit? Meaning more room for Korver and Matthew's contracts.

My wished for the #2 and #9 picks: Turner and Monroe

Brand - $15,959,099
Williams - $14,940,152
Millsap -  $6,200,000
Okur  - $9,450,000
Korver - $5,000,000
Miles - $3,700,000
Kourfos - $1,298,640
Price - $1,380,000
Matthews - $3,000,000
Gaines - $400,000
Jeffers - $0
#2 - $3,835,600
#9 - $1,963,600

Total - $67,127,091

Depth Chart
C – Memo, Monroe
PF – Brand, Millsap, Kosta
SF – Miles, Turner
SG – Matthews, Korver
PG – Williams, Price, Gaines