NBA Rumors: Utah Jazz to draft Aaron Gordon?
Now that the Utah Jazz have named former Missouri Tigers’ head coach and Atlanta Hawks’ assistant coach Quin Snyder their next head coach, they can focus all of their resources on the upcoming NBA Draft.
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The Jazz fell just short of a top-five pick and will likely miss out on one of the draft’s elite four prospects, former Kansas Jayhawks’ center Joel Embiid, his college teammate, forward Andrew Wiggins, former Duke Blue Devils’ forward Jabari Parker and Austalian point guard Dante Exum. That does not mean they can’t get a big time prospect.
Players like former Oklahoma State Cowboys’ point guard Marcus Smart, former Indiana Hoosiers’ big man Noah Vonleh and former Arizona Wildcats’ forward Aaron Gordon are all squarely on the Jazz’s radar (As is former Michigan State Spartans’ forward Adreian Payne, who the Jazz are reportedly very interested in).
The Jazz seem especially interested in Gordon. Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune reports the Jazz are very impressed with the way Gordon handles himself on and off of the court. They were not only excited about his workout, but believe he handles himself in the media better than any other prospect they’ve had in.
The Jazz were very impressed by Aaron Gordon's workout this afternoon
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) June 7, 2014
Gordon also had the most impressive media interview of all the prospects the Jazz have brought in. And it wasn't close
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) June 7, 2014
Gordon, who measured in at 6’8.75″ and 220 points with a wingspan of 6’11.75″ at the NBA’s Scouting Combine, averaged 12.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 49.5% from the field, 35.6% from beyond the arc and 42.2% from the free throw line for the Wildcats this season.