Utah Jazz: At 23, Jazz want contributor — someday

That's how low the bar will be for whomever the Jazz tap with their No. 23 overall selection in the first round of tonight's NBA Draft.

"I think what you do is you look long-term," Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said. "When you're drafting 23rd you say, 'Who can we get that possibility can contribute?' When you do that, maybe it doesn't have to be next year. But hopefully sometime in the future.

"So we would like to find somebody that can contribute in some way, shape or form, at some point in time. Does it have to be next year? No, not necessarily. You've got to understand you've got to wait on some people."

The Jazz are so unsure about whether or not they'll even like what's available at 23, in fact, that punting is a viable option.

"There's certainly a possibility. I'm not gonna say there's not," O'Connor said when asked if Utah would consider trading its pick - perhaps to acquire one for next year, when it's possible the Jazz's will go to Philadelphia to complete the December trade for guard Kyle Korver.

Yet that is not to say there may not be something there at 23 that the Jazz like.

One possibility among many is 7-foot-2 Georgetown center Roy Hibbert, though his game is geared more toward offense — and does not feature shot-blocking skills so coveted by coach Jerry Sloan.

Hibbert is a solid passer for a center, however, and that fits neatly into Sloan's system.

O'Connor had no comment when asked if the Jazz would be willing to trade up to get the 21-year-old senior.

And they may have to if they really do want him.

Charlotte on Wednesday acquired the No. 20 overall pick from Denver for a future protected first-round selection, and it's been rumored the Bobcats might be eyeing Hibbert with that choice.

Hibbert's agent, David Falk, also has been the longtime agent for Bobcats basketball boss Michael Jordan — which ultimately may prove to be more, perhaps, than mere coincidence.

There also is said to be potential interest in Hibbert at No. 18 from Cleveland, whose own basketball boss, Danny Ferry, also has been represented by Falk.

Beyond Hibbert, there are a host of bigs that Utah would consider should they be available — including, but not restricted to, Florida's Marreese Speights, Nevada's JaVale McGee, Stanford's Robin Lopez, Rider's Jason Thompson, Indiana's D.J. White, Kansas' Darrell Arthur and perhaps Texas A&M's DeAndre Jordan.

Another option is to take an international big, either French center Alexis Ajinca (who could be long gone by them) or Congo power forward Serge Ibaka.

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