18. Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz have the 18th pick and are represented by:

   Michael Wendt .

With the 18th pick, the Jazz (making the best pick in the draft IMHO :-)),
select:

   George Lynch, SF, 6-7, North Carolina

============================================================================
TEAM NEEDS
----------

Utah finds itself in a rather interesting situation.  The Jazz were an
early choice to make the NBA finals.  However due to their
inconsistency in the second half of the season, they ended up in the
sixth playoff position in the Western Conference.  The important
factor to assume is that Malone and Stockton weren't playing as well
merely from being tired from a short summer vacation.  This would mean
that the Jazz will choose eighteenth, while still remaining a
legitimate title contender next year.  Thus Utah needs a good role
player that might contribute more later in his career.

CENTER: This has long been (and still is) a weak spot for the Jazz
ever since Mark Eaton's career started to level off.  Eaton is still
an effective shot blocker and average rebounder, but his mobility and
speed are worse than ever.  Mike Brown is an effective backup at power
forward, but not at center, due mainly to his strength, however he too
is on the down side of career.  James Donaldson was a virtual
non-factor and probably won't be back next year.

POWER FORWARD: Karl Malone is still the best power forward in the
game, contrary to what the past season and the first round matchup
against Shawn Kemp showed.  He will mostly likely register another
20-10 year (maybe a 30-10) next year, unless he is injured.  Larry
Krystowiak and Mike Brown combine to give the Jazz effective backup at
power forward.

SMALL FORWARD: The Jazz have two solid small forwards in the hard
working Ty Corbin and streaky David Benoit.  This, however is the only
thing they have in common (being solid, that is).  If there were no
small forward position Corbin would be a power forward (good
rebounder, poor 3pt%, and hard worker) and Benoit would be a shooting
guard (OK 3pt%, good jumper, streaky).

SHOOTING GUARD: Not a whole lot of problems here.  When Jeff Malone is
hitting his fadaway shot, he can be as hard to guard as the two
superstars.  When he isn't hitting, the Jazz can go small with Jay
Humphries, or even switch Benoit over to shooting guard (usually not a
good idea)

POINT GUARD: John Stockton's precision with his passes, his quiet but
tough personality, his outside, his dribbling, and most importantly,
his intelligence, all make him the best point guard in the league.
Before his trade to the Jazz, Humphries was fast becoming one of the
best point guards in the league (even without his biblical name).
Another point guard, John Crotty could either be another one of the
Jazz's rookie free agents steals or he could be cut.

MY SELECTION:
-------------

I select George Lynch.  Lynch is tough player that can hit the outside shot, 
but more importantly he is a good rebounder and good defender.

OTHERS CONSIDERED:
------------------

Lynch is a player that would play at one of the Jazz's stronger
positions, small forward.  Because of this I considered players at the
Jazz's weaker positions, Luther Wright and Rex Walters.  However I do
not see these players as having a major impact in the next few years,
which is what the Jazz need considering the age of their premier
players.  Local star Josh Grant was also considered but his age
steered me away from him.

WHO THEY'LL PROBABLY TAKE:
--------------------------

They will probably take Lynch, Mills, or Dehere depending on who is left at
this point in the draft.

OTHER MOVES:
------------

The Jazz might trade K. Malone and their pick for the No. 1, however I
highly doubt this as that would mean giving up a first team all-NBA
member and probably a solid player at no. 18

======================================================================
Draft Summary:
1.  Orlando
    GM:   Tom@Orlando 
    Pick: Chris Webber, PF, 6-10.  University of Michigan
2.  Philadelphia
    GM:   Dave Meeks 
    Pick: Shawn Bradley, C, 7-7. BYU
3.  Golden State
    GM's: Mike Moore 
          Terry Wong 
    Pick: Jamal Mashburn, SF, 6-8. Kentucky
4.  Dallas
    GM:   Curtis Hill  
    Pick: Anfernee Hardaway, SG, 6-7, Memphis State
5.  Minnesota
    GM's: Kevin Hansen 
          Toni Morgan 
    Pick: Calbert Cheaney, SF, 6-7. Indiana
6.  Washington
    GM's: The Crossjammer 
          Jim Nagle   
    Pick: J.R. Rider, SG, 6-5, UNLV
7.  Sacramento
    GM:   TODD FURESZ 
    Pick: Rodney Rogers, PF, 6-7, Wake Forest
8.  Milwaukee       
    GM's: Brian Saunders 
          Morgan Edwards 
    Pick: Malcolm Mackey, PF, 6-11, Georgia Tech
9.  Denver
    GM's: John Exby 
          Rick Grubin 
    Pick: Ervin Johnson, PF, 6-11, New Orleans
10. Detroit
    GM:   Rob Skrobola 
    Pick: Alan Houston, SG, 6-6, Tennessee
11. Detroit
    GM:   Rob Skrobola 
    Pick: Acie Earl, C, 6-10, Iowa
12. L.A. Lakers
    GM:   Cliff Slaughterbeck 
    Pick: Bobby Hurley, PG, 6-0, Duke
13. L.A. Clippers
    GM:   Cliff Slaughterbeck 
    Pick: Vin Baker, SF, 6-10, Hartford
14. Indiana
    GM:   Doug Mraz 
    Pick: Scott Burrell, SG, 6-7, UCONN
15. Atlanta
    GM:   Kevin Metz 
    Pick: Terry Dehere, SG, 6-4, Seton Hall
16. New Jersey
    GM:   A. Borges Sugiyama 
    Pick: Douglas Edwards, PF, 6-9, Florida State
17. Charlotte
    GM:   Bren Bailey 
    Pick: Chris Mills, SF, 6-6, Arizona
18. Utah
    GM:   Michael Wendt  
    Pick: George Lynch, SF, 6-7, North Carolina

Next up:
19. Boston
    GM:   Orin Day