Jazz GM Kevin O’Connor’s average draft position since taking over decesion making for the Jazz in the 2000 draft from Scott Layden who fled to the Knicks but has since come back as an assistant coach, is where he is tonight #20. Layden’s last draft yeilded Andrei Kirilenko. O’Connor’s best pick has been easily Deron Williams. What has O’Connor done as he enters his 10th draft with Utah?

2000 DRAFT: 1ST ROUND: DESHAWN STEVENSON HIGH SCHOOL (23) 2ND ROUND:  KANIEL DICKENS (50) IDAHO

Stevenson was a bust and solidified what the Jazz think and though of high school players in the draft. Stevenson appeared in 222 regular season games during his time with Utah. He averaged 5.9 ppg., 1.9 rpg. and 1.2 apg. in 16.7 minpg. during that time. Stevenson played in five career playoff outings. At 19 years old, he became the youngest player to ever play and start for the Jazz. On February 19, 2004 the Orlando Magic acquired guard DeShawn Stevenson and a future second round draft pick from the Utah Jazz in exchange for guard-forward Gordan Giricek. Jazz could havce drafted Michael Redd if they wanted a shooting guard who went to the Bucks at pick #43.
Dickens played for Portland and Cleveland on 10-day contracts but never played for the Jazz. He’s currently playing in Italy.

GRADE: F

2001 DRAFT: 1ST ROUND RAUL LOPEZ PG (24) 2ND ROUND: JARRON COLLINS (52)

Lopez was a bust as much for injuries as anything else and the fact that the Spurs grabbed PG Tony Parker 4 picks later. In September 2002, Lopez signed his NBA rookie contract with the Jazz and underwent surgery to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, missing the entire 2002-03 NBA season. Finally, in the 2003-04 season, totally recovered from his knee injury, he played in all of the 82 regular season games as the backup to starting point guard Carlos Arroyo, while averaging 7.0 points, 3.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per game.On August 3, 2005, López was traded from the Jazz to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the largest trade in NBA history, involving five teams, 13 players, and two draft picks. He was subsequently cut from Memphis’ 2005-06 roster. To make matters worse the Jazz could have had Parker, Gilbert Arenas (31), Gerald Walalce (25) or Mehmet Okur (38).
Collins was serviceable and won’t be broughtr back this year.

GRADE: D Collins years with the Jazz saves the F, but the players drafted behind Lopez hurt.

2002 DRAFT: 1ST ROUND RYAN HUMPHREY (19) (TRADED FOR CURTIS BORCHARDT(18)) 2ND ROUND JAMAL SAMPSON (46)

Humphrey or Borchardt they both sucked. Humphrey just sucked Borchardt couldn’t stay healthy and sucked. Averaged 3 points and 2 rebounds in 83 career Jazz games. Sampson was taken ahead of Luis Scolo of the Rockets who was taken at #55. Players picked after #19 in the first included Carlos Boozer (34) and Tayshaun Prince (23).

GRADE: F

2003 DRAFT: SASHA PAVLOVIC (19) 2ND ROUND: MO WILLIAMS (47)

O’Connor did okay in the first round and hit a home run with the 2nd round pick. The problem is he didn’t get value for either player in the end. 
Pavlović was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 19th pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.

In 79 games played (14 starts), Pavlović averaged 4.8 points and 2.0 rebounds. Pavlović was selected by the Charlotte Bobcats in the expansion draft on June 22, 2004 but was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for a future first-round draft pick the following day. He was traded last night to Phoenix as part of the Shaq O’Neal to Cleveland deal. Williams was selected by the Jazz 47th overall and averaged five points and 1.3 assists for the Jazz in his first NBA season, then signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks. Interesting notes, Jazz could have had Josh Howard taken 29th in the first by Dallas and Kyle Korver was taken 4 picks after Mo Williams.

GRADE: C+ Good picks, but got nothing for their value in the end.

2004 DRAFT: 1ST ROUND: KRIS HUMPHRIES (14), KIRK SNYDER (16) 2ND ROUND: NO PICK

Both players were disasters. Players picked after these two boneheads included Al Jefferson (15), Josh Smith (17), JR Smith (18), Jameer Nelson (20), Kevin Martin (26), Trevor Ariza (43), Humphries left the Jazz having averaged 3.6 ppg and 2.7 rpg in 11 mpg. Snyder lasted one season playing in 68 games averaging 13 mpg and 5 points per game. Snyder is currently on 500k bail and awaiting trial for aggrivated burglary.

GRADE: F -I wish we could give a lower grade but F is the bottom.

2005 DRAFT: 1ST ROUND DERON WILLIAMS 2ND ROUND CJ MILES (34), ROBERT WHALEY (51)

O’Connor’s greatest move as Jazz GM. He stole Williams by offering pick #6 overall to Portland, pick #27 in 2005 and what turned out to be pick #30 in 2006. Those players are Martell Webster, Linas Kleza and Joel Freeland. Jazz win. CJ Miles, although he hasn’t lived up to potential is a solid 2nd round pick, Whaley is best known for gettinginto a fight in Park City and lying to the Jazz and police about it then on June 8, 2006, Whaley and Jazz teammate Kris Humphries were traded to the Toronto Raptors for Rafael Araújo.

GRADE: A

2006 DRAFT: 1ST ROUND RONNIE BREWER (14) 2ND ROUND: DEE BROWN (46), PAUL MILLSAP (47)

Almost as good as the “05 draft, Brewer was the best player outside of Rajon Rondo on the board, but the best fit for the Jazz and Millsap as easily outplayed his status as a 2nd rounder and would have been picked in the top 10 if the draft had been replayed. Brown was seen last playing for the Suns last season and is a fringe NBA player.

GRADE: A

2007 DRAFT: ROUND 1 MORRIS ALMOND (25) ROUND 2 KYRYLO FESENKO (38) HERBERT HILL (55)

Almond could be a player but the Jazz never played him and didn’t pick up his 3rd year option, he won’t be back. Fez had his option picked up this off seaosn because he’s chealp and 7 feet tall, he still has potential and has to stay with the Jazz this season as he is out of D-League options. Hill never played for the Jazz. With pick #26 the Rockets picked PG Aaron Brooks who starred in last years playoffs and at #31 they picked Carl Landry. The Jazz need both a PF and a back up PG. Marc Gasol, who looked solid in Memphis this season, was taken 48th overall by the Lakers and was a key part of the trade that sent his bother Pau to the Lakers.

GRADE: D- Fez has some value.

2008 DRAFT: 1ST ROUND KOSTA KOUFOS (23) 2ND ROUND ANTE TOMIC (44), Tadija Dragićević (53)

Koufos looked good at times and bad at others in 2008. He played early due to injuries but did not play in a regular season game after February 17th. He averaged 4.7 ppg and 3 rebounds in 12 mpg. Here are bios on the other two picks who won’t be in the NBA for awhile if ever:
Ante Tomić (born February 17, 1987 in Dubrovnik, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia) is a Croatian basketball player currently playing for KK Zagreb in the Croatian League.The 7’2” center was drafted in the second round (44th overall) in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. Tomić is a member of the Croatia national basketball team. Tadija Dragićević (Serbian Cyrillic: Тадија Драгићевић), (born January 28, 1986 in Čačak, Serbia) is a Serbian professional basketball player, currently playing for KK Crvena Zvezda.He was drafted 53rd overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz.

GRADE: Inc. Koufos has potential, the other two guys are unknowns and won’t play in Utah for awhile if ever.