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 13, 2015; New York, NY, USA; U.S. Team guard Trey Burke of the Utah Jazz (3) and World Team center Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz (27) talk during the second half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2015; New York, NY, USA; U.S. Team guard Trey Burke of the Utah Jazz (3) and World Team center Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz (27) talk during the second half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

2013: Jazz select Shabazz Muhammed (14) and Gorgui Dieng (21) but trade both players’ rights to Minnesota Timberwolves for Trey Burke (9), Jazz select Erick Green (46) but trade rights to Denver Nuggets for Rudy Gobert (27)

Dennis Lindsey really began to work his magic in the 2013 NBA Draft. We could go into how the Jazz might actually regret giving up two picks for Trey Burke, but instead we’ll focus on who they might have selected instead after trading up for the ninth and 27th picks.

Before getting too upset about the Burke selection, just remember that this was the year that the Cavaliers selected Anthony Bennett with the first pick in the draft. Kwame Brown and Andrea Bargnani proudly welcome you to the club, Mr. Bennett.

Continuing in cruel Jazz fashion, the pick immediately following the ninth pick turned into the NBA’s reigning Most Improved Player, C.J. McCollum. Cashing in on their second under-the-radar pick in as many years, the Portland Trail Blazers unknowingly landed a stud in the guard out of Lehigh.

Last season, McCollum averaged 20.8 points per game on 44.8 percent shooting from the field and 41.7 percent from deep. Meanwhile, Burke found himself out of the rotation by the end of the campaign.

Other notable players that the Jazz could have considered with the ninth pick include Steven Adams, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dennis Schroeder and Andre Roberson. While Antetokounmpo has the freaky athleticism and skill set to perhaps be the best of this pack, McCollum’s recent performance still makes him stand out as the best choice with the ninth pick.

Fortunately, similar to the Jazz’s selection of Paul Millsap in 2006, the Jazz hit the jackpot with their trade to claim Rudy Gobert with the 27th pick. While Gobert certainly still has room for improvement, most notably on the offensive end, his stifling defensive abilities clearly set him apart from any player taken after him.

Jazz fans should be pleased that the likely disappointing Burke pick was balanced out by grabbing the up and coming Gobert.

Who they should have taken: C.J. McCollum (10), Rudy Gobert (27)

Next: 2014