
DRAFT PICKS:
Kosta Koufos, C, 7-0, Ohio State -- With range out to the three-point arc, Koufos someday could succeed Mehmet Okur with the Jazz. He was one of 10 freshmen to be drafted in the first round and likely is ticketed for the NBA Development League as a rookie. Ante Tomic, C, 7-2, Croatia -- The 21-year-old will remain overseas for at least another season and possibly longer. But the Jazz believe Tomic will someday play in the NBA. He has size and skills but little strength to play inside.
Tadija Dragicevic, F, 6-9, Serbia -- The Jazz believe the Adriatic League MVP will someday play in the NBA, much like Tomic. There are questions about whether Dragicevic is best suited as a power forward or a small forward.
PLAYER NOTES:
--G Deron Williams returned from the Olympics complaining of jet lag, but believing that he will suffer no ill effects from a busy summer. Williams and the rest of the U.S. team was away for six weeks, starting with training camp in Las Vegas and culminating with a gold-medal victory in Beijing.
Williams said that had he been home, he would have been working out for close to three hours a day. He contrasted that with the 20 minutes a game he played for the U.S. team.
"You can tell me if that's enough (rest)," Williams said.
It has been a whirlwind summer for the Jazz' franchise player. He waited for three weeks in July to finalize a contract extension that could pay him upwards of $70 million. Williams had his number retired at Illinois and will host a charity golf tournament in late September.
--G Ronnie Brewer has donated $50,000 to the University of Arkansas' African-American studies program. Brewer played at Arkansas before the Jazz made him a lottery pick in 2006.
"This program is really up and coming," Brewer said, "and it will attract more minorities to the University of Arkansas. Our state is diverse and we need to reflect that on our campus."
--G Gerry McNamara will take part in training camp with the Jazz. The former Syracuse All-American, who played on the 2003 NCAA championship team with Carmelo Anthony, faces long odds of making the team. Utah already has 15 players with guaranteed contracts and no spots left on its roster. McNamara went undrafted out of college and has played in the NBA Development League as well as in Latvia and Greece.
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