The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Re-Selecting the Last 15 NBA Drafts

By Jared Woodcox

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Rodney Hood (Duke) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number twenty-three overall pick to the Utah Jazz in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Rodney Hood (Duke) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number twenty-three overall pick to the Utah Jazz in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 25, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) reacts during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) reacts during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

2009: Jazz select Eric Maynor (20) and Goran Suton (50)

While a lot of these nostalgic draft analyses are probably making Jazz fans feel pretty bad about themselves (and as much as I hate to say it, 2009 is no exception), hopefully the Minnesota Timberwolves blunder in the 2009 NBA Draft will help make you all feel a little better.

With the fifth and sixth picks in the draft, Minnesota selected Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn. Who went 7th you ask? Oh just a player you might have heard of who goes by the name of Stephen Curry. Yeah. Ouch.

Unfortunately, it was also bad news once again for the Jazz, who selected another lengthy career guy (actually it was really short) in Eric Maynor.

Following in the footsteps of so many Jazz first round picks before him, Maynor played in just 26 games with the Jazz before bouncing around a handful of other teams and exiting the league following the 2013-14 season.

Solid selections after Maynor in the first round include Darren Collison (who, due to recent domestic violence charges, probably wouldn’t have been the best fit after all), Taj Gibson, DeMarre Carroll and Danny Green. While none of these players are overly impressive, again each would have likely been a better selection than Maynor.

Carroll made a name for himself with his energy and hustle in Utah before breaking out with the Atlanta Hawks. Danny Green has become a deadeye shooter from deep for the San Antonio Spurs. While both would have been a solid choice for the Jazz, I’m going to go with DeMarre Carroll.

Green may have better career numbers, but Carroll’s efficiency climbed with increased minutes and his defensive abilities are clearly superior. Although Green may be reputed as the better three-point shooter, last year Carroll shot 39 percent, while Green converted on just 33.2 percent, significantly down from his career average.

While Suton never saw action as an NBA player, five picks later, the now prolific three-point shooter and ideal role player, Patty Mills, was selected. Mills has been a huge, if understated, part of the San Antonio Spurs’ recent success, including their championship in 2014.

An impact player such as Mills would have been much more useful than a player who was cut in the preseason.

Who they should have taken: DeMarre Carroll (27), Patty Mills (55)

Next: 2010