Don't feel sorry for the Utah Jazz. They don't mind having the last pick in the first round of Wednesday's NBA Draft.
"We'd like to do it every year," said Scott Layden, director of basketball operations. "If we pick 29th every year we're doing OK."Such is the case in 1998. After finishing the regular season with a 62-20 record and a sweep of the Chicago Bulls, the Jazz earned homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. First, however, becomes worst when it comes to the NBA Draft. And thus, Utah must wait until 28 names are called before making its first selection in the annual grab-bag of new talent. The team's second-round pick is No. 57 overall.
Layden said the only hope the Jazz have of securing a contributor is luck.
No draft, he insists, is 57 players deep.
"We're exhausting all possibilities," Layden said. "We want to keep everything open to see how we can better our team."
With 10 players under contract next season, the Jazz don't have a lot of flexibility. If Antoine Carr is re-signed, as expected, that leaves just one available roster spot. Salary-cap restrictions (the Jazz have just $1 million a year to offer) limit Utah's ability to attract a quality free agent, so the 12th man job will likely go to a draftee. And since first-round picks are automatically awarded three-year guaranteed contracts thanks to the league's collective bargaining agreement with the players union, the Jazz are trying feverishly to unload the 29th selection.
Layden didn't deny a report that the franchise would have exercised its option on Orlando's No. 13 pick if a deal could have been struck allowing the Jazz to move up into position to select University of Utah center Michael Doleac. The Jazz apparently didn't feel he'd be available unless they moved into the top eight.
"We've always liked Mike," Layden said before declining additional comment on the matter.
The Jazz, meanwhile, are looking ahead. Layden confirmed that four potential draftees will visit Salt Lake City Tuesday for interviews and a light workout. Utah has talked with three of the players before at NBA pre-draft camps.
As usual, Layden was tight-lipped when it came to providing details. He would not reveal names and added that the visits aren't necessarily an indication of who the Jazz might eventually draft. The organization, he added, has interviewed as many as 25 newcomers in preparing for the draft.
Such thoroughness has paid off in the past. Though the first round has delivered current roster players John Stockton, Karl Malone, Greg Ostertag and Jacque Vaughn, Utah's ability to find talent in the second round (where players aren't initially promised long-term guaranteed deals) has kept the Jazz roster from aging too badly. Shandon Anderson was the 54th player taken in the 1996 draft, and Bryon Russell was taken 45th overall in 1993.
"You've got to be so lucky to get a player that helps you," Layden acknowledged.
A year ago, the 29th and 57th picks in the draft produced Serge Zwikker for Houston and Nate Erdmann for Utah. Zwikker spent the season hiding out on the injured list, and Erdmann became a CBA refugee.
Help, however, has been found at No. 29 before. Chicago's Toni Kukoc, San Antonio's Vinny Del Negro and Cory Alexander of Denver are all former 29th picks. The trio represent the best players taken at that position over the past decade.
Should Utah remain in the slot, the Jazz will have plenty of players to chose from. The 1998 draft is considered to have seven premier players (Mike Bibby, Michael Olowokandi, Paul Pierce, Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, Larry Hughes and Raef LaFrentz) and a pool of as many as 40 others talented enough to fill the remaining 22 spots in the first round.
Layden said the draft isn't necessarily weak, it just levels off after the first seven players.
Mock drafts by various media outlets across the nation have failed to provide a consensus for who the Jazz may select. And you guessed it, Layden isn't shedding any light on the speculation.
Among those projected to be available to Utah is UCLA guard Toby Bailey (6-5, 205), Duke forward Roshown McLeod (6-8, 220), Indiana forward Andrae Patterson (6-8, 240), Mississippi forward Ansu Sesay (6-9, 220), Toledo center Casey Shaw (6-11, 260) and forward Mirsad Turkcan (6-9, 230) of Turkey.
However, former Spurs coach and current NBA draft analyst Bob Hill points out that Utah doesn't really need anything.
"They made it back to the Finals for the second straight year. No one in this or any draft when you are picking at 29 is going to play much on a team that is this good," Hill said. "Greg Ostertag has played pretty well of late, and they are still trying to bring him along, but they are still in the market for a little more size and may be in the market for a center. They are set with three point guards. Jeff Hornacek is getting a little older, so they would like to get another shooting guard in an ideal world."
The reality of the Jazz position, however, is a familiar tune.
Can you say best player available?
Layden can. And for years, he's made it work.
"That's what we're looking for," he said, once again.
Some things, it seems, never change.
*****
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
1998 NBA Draft: Some educated guesses
Compiled by Dirk Facer, Sports Writer
Vancouver, June 24, 1998
... USA The Sporting L.A. Monter Deseret
No. Team Today News Times Rankings News
1. Clippers Bibby Bibby Bibby Bibby Bibby
2. Grizzlies Pierce Pierce Olowokandi Pierce Olowokandi
3. Nuggets Olowokandi Olowokandi Carter Olowokandi Pierce
4. Raptors LaFrentz Jamison Traylor Jamison Carter
5. Warriors Carter Carter Pierce LaFrentz Hughes
6. Mavericks Jamison Nowitzki Hughes Carter Jamison
7. Kings Hughes Doleac Jamison Hughes LaFrentz
8. 76ers Traylor Traylor LaFrentz Traylor Traylor
9. Bucks Nowitzki LaFrentz Doleac Mohammed Doleac
10. Celtics Clark Mohammed Mohammed Lewis Mohammed
11. Pistons Lewis Hughes Wells Nowitzki Clark
12. Magic Doleac Clark Williams Wells Nowitzki
13. Magic Drew Harrington Nowitzki Harrington Williams
14. Rockets Harrington Lewis Clark Clark Dickerson
15. Magic Nesterovic Williams White Doleac Garrity
16. Rockets Garrity Lue Garrity Williams Lewis
17. Timberwolves Mohammed Skinner Nesterovic Garrity Nesterovic
18. Rockets Dickerson Bailey Lewis Nesterovic Wells
19. Bucks Stepania Benjamin Drew Dickerson Drew
20. Hawks R. Patterson Harpring Harpring Benjamin Harpring
21. Hornets Skinner Garrity Shaw McCoy Skinner
22. Clippers Benjamin McCoy Miller Stepania Benjamin
23. Nuggets Lue Dickerson Dickerson Harpring Bailey
24. Spurs Harpring Drew Benjamin R. Patterson Simon
25. Pacers Lopez Wells Murkcan Drew Lopez
26. Lakers McCoy Henderson Lue Sesay Lue
27. Sonics Braggs McLeod R. Patterson Skinner McCoy
28. Bulls Williams Lopez Harrington Henderson Harrington
29. JAZZ Shaw Sesay A. Patterson Bailey McLeod