A month after losing to the Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals, the Jazz have started working out players in advance of the June 26 draft. The Jazz own the No. 23 pick in the first round as well as two second-round selections.
They brought in Georgetown's Roy Hibbert for an earlier-than-expected workout June 4. The Jazz were able to schedule the workout as part of a three-stop trip for Hibbert that took the 7-foot-2 center to Sacramento and Seattle. The Jazz have been linked to Hibbert in nearly every mock draft, with many seeing Hibbert as a natural fit in Utah, having played in the Princeton offense in college. If his words were any guide, Hibbert made a good first impression with the Jazz.
Hibbert said he told his agent he wanted the Jazz to see him in a workout before the draft. "Obviously, they're going to have other big guys coming in," Hibbert said, "but I want them to remember me first, so hopefully I made an impression."
He even greeted reporters by saying," Hopefully, I'll see you guys a lot more next year, if I have my way." Hibbert fits the bill as a big man who could come off the bench for the Jazz, joining Jarron Collins, Paul Millsap and Kyrylo Fesenko.
Hibbert originally entered the draft last spring before returning for his senior season. The Jazz believe Hibbert would have been a lottery pick had he stayed in the draft, though he likely will go in the mid-to-late first round now.
The Jazz have since worked out another three centers in Cal's DeVon Hardin, Kansas' Sasha Kaun and Australia's Nathan Jawai. They have future workouts scheduled with Rider's Jason Thompson and Stanford's Robin Lopez, among others.
Although the Jazz have an established point guard in Deron Williams and a crowd of young wings -- - Ronnie Brewer, C.J. Miles and Morris Almond -- - Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor stressed he would take the best player available regardless of position.
"Don't get locked into a position on us," O'Connor said, "because if we feel like there's somebody that stands above everybody else at our pick, we're going to take him, no matter how deep we are at that spot."
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: The Jazz were 16-16 and out of the Western Conference's top eight after losing to Boston 104-98 at home Dec. 29. But the Jazz welcomed Kyle Korver in a trade from Philadelphia and went on to tie the franchise record by winning 19 consecutive home games. The Jazz beat Portland, San Antonio, New Orleans, Detroit, Dallas and Denver as part of the streak before losing to the Lakers on March 20. That was an omen of things to come as Kobe Bryant and Co. ended the Jazz's season on their home court nearly two months later.
TURNING POINT: No team in the last 30 years has gone on to win a title with a losing road record and the Jazz were no different. They finished 17-24 on the road, losing to six of the seven teams (all except Milwaukee) that missed the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. The Jazz also lost twice to Minnesota and once to the L.A. Clippers on the road. Had they won only four more road games, the Jazz would have finished with 58 victories, good for the Western Conference's top playoff seed. That would have given them home-court advantage for the series against the Lakers. The Jazz finished the season 0-5 against the Lakers at Staples Center.
