by Dana Greene

The crowd went nuts (pun intended) when Morris Almond became the Jazz 1st round draft pick. They wanted a shooter, and they got a shooter. Fans love guys who can bomb it up from 3-land, and Almond can do just that. But is that all he can do? If he eventually does earn some playing time, don't the Jazz still have that problem of getting torched by opposing 2-guards? I take it Jerry Sloan won't put Almond on the floor too much until he does learn how to play NBA defense, but still.

I said earlier the Jazz should go big with the 25th pick. And predictably, they didn't listen. Now, don't get me wrong. Morris Almond is a high-character, very intelligent and all-around good guy, but he doesn't solve the Jazz more pressing low post problem. (Neither does the Ukranian Kyrylo Fesenko, either). All this means is less opportunity for Ronnie Brewer, who I think can be come a very good wing player. With Glen Davis, or Josh McRoberts, or even Nick Fazekas still on the board, I think the Jazz should have gone with a big body down low.

However, if the Jazz were bent on a shooter, I always felt Almond was the only 2-guard worth taking at #25. Let's hope they're right.