The Jazz have spent the last week or so bringing in players for pre-draft workouts and interviews and all that Jazz. Looking at guys they might draft or invite to the summer league, to make sure they know what they're getting. The Jazz seem to put great stock into the pre-draft workouts. Sure, it didn't show last year... they didn't workout The Koof because neither the team nor the player/agent thought he'd fall that far. But before that... Morris Almond? Check. Ronnie Brewer? Check. Deron Williams? Check. (I'd go beyond that, but seriously... I don't remember 2004. Because I wasn't here for the draft. Plus, that draft sucked majorly.) Anyhow, obviously the Jazz work out guys the like, and generally take guys that they've worked out. So, looking at the players they've worked out so far and then looking at where they'll go, based on 3 mocks (NBADraft.net, Draftexpress.com, collegehoops.net).

Gone (Average position is before #20)

1. F James Johnson (average draft position = #14)
2. F Tyler Hansbrough (17)
   
3. G Jeff Teague (18)

Potential 1st Round Guys (Average position is in the 20's)

1. F DeJuan Blair (20)
2. G Eric Maynor (21)... they didn't work him out, but did bring him in for an interview yesterday
3. F Sam Young (23)

First Round Reaches (Won't be around at #50)

1. G Toney Douglas (33)
2. F Derrick Brown (34)
3. G Jermaine Taylor (38)
4. F Taj Gibson (41)
5. F Jeff Pendergraph (43)
6. F Josh Heytvelt (45)
7. F Dante Cunningham (45)
8. G Jodie Meeks (47)
9. G Patrick Beverley (48)... was only in 2 of the mocks

Second Round (Average draft position is #50 or below)

1. G Curtis Jerrells (53)... was only in 2 of the mocks
2. G Nando De Colo (55)... was only in 2 of the mocks
3. F Jeff Adrien (55)... was only in 1 of the mocks
4. G Wes Matthews (57)... was only in 1 of the mocks
5. F Alade Aminu (58)... was only in 1 of the mocks
6. G Tyrese Rice (59)... was only in 1 of the mocks
7. G Jeremy Pargo (60)... was only in 1 of the mocks

Undrafted (Didn't show up in any of the mocks)

1. G Dominic James
2. G Ryan Toolson
3. C Goran Suton
4. F Geoff Payne
5. C Luke Nevill
6. F Shaun Green
7. C Marcus Cousin
8. G Justin Dentmon
9. F Taylor Griffin
10. F Kevin Rogers
11. G LeVance Fields
12. F Marcus Landry
13. F Gary Wilkinson
14. G Taylor Rochestie
15. G Ben Woodside

It seems the Jazz are really high on Sam Young, according to various reports/rumors out there. They also seem high on a couple of 2nd round forwards (including Taylor Griffin), so I'm not sure what they're planning. KOC has said the team will carry 3 PGs next year... but not 2 rookies... so I'd assume they get at least 1 PG tonight. Maybe Maynor or someone like Teague/Holiday/Lawson (if they fall) in the 1st. Or maybe they wait till the 2nd and pick up someone like Rice or Pargo or De Colo.

So... there have been a couple of trades the last couple of days that could impact the Jazz.

Richard Jefferson to San Antonio -> The Spurs gave up 3 players for him... 2 of whom could be back in San Antonio before the off-season is over (gotta love the NBA!) Jefferson adds to their "big 3" and makes them even more dangerous. The Jazz already have issues with San Antonio, and now the Spurs have added another wing. Not good. Let's say Brewer & AK can shut down Manu & Jefferson... who's gonna stop Duncan then? And if you shift AK to help on Duncan, can you count on CJ or Harpring or Korver (if he's back) to stop Jefferson or Manu? Or maybe the Jazz just plan to out-score them?

Shaquille O'Neal to Cleveland -> The Cavs have no impact on the Jazz... David Stern is probably already set up for a Lakers/Cavs Christmas Day game (and NBA Finals, but whatever). No, the big thing here is the Suns trading Shaq for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic (remember him?), #46 and $500,000. This seeming salary dump by the Suns could signal the start of a "rebuilding process" that could take them out of the playoff race. Since they were the only team "in it" behind the Jazz (who finished #8, if you don't remember)... and given that most of the other teams below that probably won't improve by leaps and bounds (though you have to watch out for all the young teams)... the Jazz might find their road just a bit easier to walk on (no guarantee, of course). The Suns are also being rumored to be interested in Tyson Chandler, T-Mac (for J-Rich or for Amar'e) and might even get an offer from Golden State for Amar'e, so we'll have to see what they do. And if they are in fact rebuilding, does that put Nash on the market as well?

Amir Johnson to Milwaukee -> By trading Amir for Oberto (who they will now release so he can go back to SA), the Pistons clear up a bit more cap room. Rumors are that they're not interested in Booze... they want money to spend on several players, and no contracts over $10 million... but this could lead them to 'Sap. And it could also keep Booze from opting out, as I don't see Memphis or OKC being huge players for him either, and most other teams aren't overflowing in cash. If Booze doesn't opt out, the Jazz are stuck.

Jamal Crawford to Atlanta -> First of all, I'd just like to say that I have no idea what Atlanta is thinking. Meanwhile, the Warriors add a young PG in Acie Law... and trade away a guy they had no interest in having around (Crawford). In the process, the Jazz lose 1 potential target in an AK trade... which could be huge if Booze doesn't opt out.

#5 pick to Minnesota -> Sure, they lose a bad PG (Foye) and a disappointing 3-point shooter (Mike Miller). And sure, they added a couple of guys that might play a role or something on the team. The big addition for the T-Wolves, though, is the pick. This gives them 4 1st-rounders (!), including 2 of the top 10. Even if they don't end up trading up to #2 or #3, they'll end up with 2 solid players (probably a PG and a SG) to add to Corey Brewer, Kevin Love & Al Jefferson. That's a solid core to have. The team is young, but they're improving quickly (like OKC is... and like we've seen Portland do over the last 2 or so years). Sure, this draft might be "weak," but if they know what they're doing, they'll find the guys that fit their system (whatever it is) and make them better. And with McHale the GM gone, I'm worried they might know what they're doing. This is just going to make the Northwest even tougher for the Jazz... 3 young and up-coming teams, plus a Denver team that has really come together with the acquisition of Billups.

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