I will admit that when I was watching the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft, I was screaming profanities at the owners, coaches, and David Stern as the first names were announced to the world. Even though I was yelling and freaking out, making everyone in my apartment building think I was trying to kill someone, the outcome of the NBA Draft was something I could not change. The first two picks, I was able to hold my composure up, until the Utah Jazz sent their selection in, and then I went ape ****.
Enes Kanter, Utah? Are you freaking kidding me? You took a European center, to play second fiddle to Al Jefferson, but instead just blew off the fact that they have a hole the size of LeBron James' desire to win a Championship at the guard position. They have the late-rounder Devin Harris starting and Raja Bell, (wait is Raja even still alive?), as their starters, and apparently Tyrone Corbin is thinking those two can lead them to the promise land.
Keep this in mind, the Jazz could have even taken Brandon Knight from Kentucky. Wouldn't that be at least some what more satisfying than Kanter? No.
The simple fact of the matter is that even Knight, who is a superb talent, is not Jimmer Fredette.
Every Jazz fan reading this is shaking their head and crying into their hands. I feel you. Other denominations of fans are simply laughing, and that's fine. Because the simple truth is that every Jazz fan wanted nothing more than to have Fredette doning a Utah jersey. I know that I had visions of the 'Deron Williams Era' quickly being forgotten as Fredette started to drop 30 a night, and blazed a trail straight to an NBA Championship.
Jimmer Mania? Hell. Yes. (No pun intended for those BYU buddies out there).
Realistically, I know that is not how things would have worked out for Utah and Fredette. The fact that the Jazz passed up on such an amazing talent, that is the biggest home-town hero in Salt Lake City since Joseph Smith, is nothing short of mind-blowing. As I have pointed out many times in the past, one of the biggest benefits to drafting Fredette is that he would sell seats, which ties in directly with him being a home-town hero.
Monetary value aside, Fredette's talent alone should have been enough. He led all of college basketball in scoring and has a smooth shooting stroke that has drawn comparisons to Steve Nash. Combine that with his leadership value, something that Utah has been running in circles with since Williams was traded, it doesn't make any since that the Jazz passed on him.
I am aware that a third overall pick for Fredette would be considered 'reaching' for a player that has had some questions raised about his defense and success at the next level, but Utah knew what he was capable of. Fredette encompasses every single thing that the Jazz organization was lacking, and brought it to the table faster than any player, especially Kanter, in this draft class. This was a pick that Utah should have never questioned.
However, the Kings walk out of the draft with possibly one of the biggest steals of the last decade. Along with that, Sacramento is a team that is on the rise, and Fredette should fit in beautifully next to Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins. I know that the talk has been that the Kings are possibly stuck in parallel in 2011, as they may be moving locations soon, but Fredette's leadership should be able to go through that blockade like a freight train.
As a Jazz fan, I am let down.
If you are a Kings fan, let Jimmer Mania commence. Have fun.
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