Are Jazz good at drafting?

It’s draft day, and I have to admit I woke up interested. That can’t be said for many of the draft days in Jazz history.

Now that they’ve slipped in the regular season, and acquired a high pick in the Deron Williams trade, the draft might be the most exciting part of their year.

Frankly, the NBA Draft was a yawn for most of the Jazz’s history. Until 2004 they had never had a lottery pick. Almost every year they were pulling the No. 19 (Quincy Lewis), 18 (Luther Wright) or 25 pick (Morris Almond).Odds of that pick being an impact player were slim.

G.M. KEVIN O’CONNOR

But the Jazz made do. Greg Ostertag (I can’t believe I’m saying this) was a No. 28 pick in 1995 and ended up playing 10 years in a Jazz uniform. He was awkward and inconsistent (and goofy), but to get a player who started 318 games with the 28th pick shows some fairly shrewd drafting, as did the selection of Paul Millsap (No. 47).

But thanks to accumulated picks and the Jazz’s slipping success, interest in the draft has picked up in Utah. The Jazz got Gordon Hayward at No. 9 last year, a fairly interesting pick, and this time (barring any last minute dealing) they have the No. 3 and 12 picks.

Looking back, I’m convinced the Jazz are good judges of talent. Ike Austin, DeShawn Stevenson, Mo Williams, Eric Murdock and Kris Humphries didn’t shine in Utah, but later went on to start for other teams. Obviously the Jazz saw something when they drafted them. Bryon Russell, Shandon Anderson and Millsap were second round picks.

No team is perfect on its picks, but I rate the Jazz better than most teams at evaluating talent.

THE BIG Oh-No!