NBA Draft thoughts

With the NBA draft tomorrow here are my thoughts on who I'd like the Jazz to take or not take

WISHFUL THINKING LIST:
Joe Alexander WVU 6'8 SF
Kevin Love UCLA 6'9 PF
Unless the Jazz made some sort of blockbuster trade they aren't getting anywhere near either of these two guys and they would be playing positions where there are already too many players on the roster. I really like Alexander's long term potential and game. Some draft websites call him Matt Harpring with athleticism. Harpring is clearly on his last legs and maybe has a year or two left. Love is just a great basketball player with a head for the game and I think would be an instant Jerry Sloan favorite.

BIG GUYS WISH LIST:
Roy Hibbert Georgetown 7'2 Center
The #1 option for the Jazz in my opinion. He's the most NBA ready and could possibly contribute by mid season. Is very smart and understands how to play around the basket. Is a good defender and developing on offense. Knock on him is that he isn't athletic enough for the NBA, but he's not going to be asked to run a lot so that doesn't bother. The Jazz need a player that can step in and play center for short periods of times when Okur is on the bench or the Jazz need more of a defensive presence. He's the ideal fit

Jason Thompson Rider 6'10 PF/Center
Thompson is a project and didn't play against a high level at Rider College but is a very good rebounder and a good defender. Much more athletic than Hibbert but needs a lot of polish on his offensive game. If the Jazz take him he's going to need to spend at least a year in Orem before he will be up with the big team so don't look for instant impact.

Omer Asik Turkey 7'0 PF/Center
Omer is a bit of a wild card because mock drafts have him all over the board. Right now he's being projected end of the first round on NBAdraft.net and Draftexpress has him more middle of the 2nd round. He's a work in progress, and would probably be better slotted for a 2nd rounder but given his Turkish ties I think he might get extra consideration from the Jazz. He's really the inverse Memo, not much of an offensive game, poor FT shooter, limited range but good shot blocking and much better defense.

Alexis Ajinca France 7'0 PF/Center
Has the size and is a good shot blocker and rebounder (the two things the Jazz need most from a backup center). Doesn't have a lot of polish on his offensive game and will probably spend some more time in Europe or go to the NBDL before making it to the Jazz. Staying in Europe could be a plus though as the Jazz don't have a lot of roster spots to go around right now (1 open with CJ Miles situation yet to be determined)

NO THANKS:
Robin Lopez Stanford 7'0 Center
The other Lopez twin wouldn't be an awful pick but I just would rather see a gamble with one of the other players first. Doesn't have a very high ceiling but will probably be a Jarron Collins type, a guy who can come in and play some defense and might score a bucket or two when left alone right below the hoop.

JaVale McGee Nevada 7'0 Center
Has a freakishly long arms and could be a force with a little work, but after seeing him up close and personal a couple times against the Aggies I just don't see it happening. Easily gets frustrated when things aren't going right, doesn't show a lot of effort on the defensive end of the floor and watching him against the Ags I didn't see a lot of offensive game, mostly scored on put backs and garbage buckets.


PREDICTION:

1st round: The Jazz take someone completely off the board like Chris Douglas-Roberts and then trade him and a second rounder or future considerations or something for Roy Hibbert who will be taken a few picks earlier. If the Jazz don't make a trade I'm going with most of the mock drafts and think that Jason Thompson will be the guy.
2nd round: Foreign player who they can keep in Europe for a year or two with so little room on the roster its almost a must to either trade one or both of the second rounders or take a couple of Euro's.

I'll give an update on how I feel about the Jazz draft and the draft in general later, after I've talked myself into whoever the Jazz took.