I hate the sports expression "There's a reason [whoever] got drafted this low or high." Of course there's a reason but that doesn't equate to sound reasoning. Yes there was a reason, or most likely multiple reasons, Koufus got selected 23rd: foot injury jr yr of high school, too much upside and not proven enough, fears that he will instead sign a more lucrative contract for a team in Greece, doesn't fill a team's need, most likely there are more reasons why teams passed him up. There is also a reason Milsap didn't get drafted until the middle of the second round and why Darko got drafted before Wade, Anthony, Kamen ect. Ambiguously saying "there's a reason" but not specifying any is an ignorant coppout and is misleading. I could just as easily say that 'there's a reason' the reporter didn't give any reasons behind other teams reasoning(it's probably because he hasn't a clue of what they're reasoning may be). The fact is the Jazz picked the best player still available- by far. Congrads Jazz on making the right pick.

Jered Weaver was not 'the losing pitcher in a no hitter pitched by his own team.' The term 'no hitter' has a specific meaning that includes the team pitching for at least nine innings. Since the Angels lost and the Dodgers were the home team, the Angels only pitched in 8 innings. It may be a technicality, but it will not go down in the record books as a no hitter.

Well stated my man. I agree completely. Koufus may make alot of people eat their pre-judged words. I like the choice a bunch.

The real question is who else were the jazz going to pick? I'm sure there will be some stud 2 years into the league that everyone will love and people will question the jazz for not taking them, but there will be 20-something other teams that do the same thing. Maybe even 20-something other teams that could feel the same way about Koufus.

Who cares about a sportswriter's opinion? He went to school to learn how to write, probably never played or coached basketball, and yet considers himself to be such an expert by hanging around the locker room after games that he believes we all should give his opinion greater weight than our own. I don't understand why sports reporters don't stick to reporting and leave the editorializing and predicting to others.

That one time a Jazz pick was booed - that kid from Gorgonzala - it didn't turn out so bad for UT....unless you consider NBA records and all that other cool stuff Stockton did bad...sniff... I miss Stockton.

SLC gal--I miss him too. Isn't it funny how a guy doesn't really need the press, or commercials, or Sports Illustrated, to become a legend and a hero?

This is what passes for writing in the Deseret News? I'll stick with the Tribune.

Didn't some kid from Louisiana drop in the draft because his work ethic was questioned? What was his name... oh yeah, Karl Malone.

Plaisted better free throw shooter than Kite. That`s good to know. He can use those skills overseas

Koufus may turn out to be okay but I doubt it. I would much rather one of the Jayhawks. Arthur is an extremely athletic and active big man, granted we a have a couple PF's but seriously Arthur does so much he could have fit in. Chalmers would have also been a solid pickup providing a confident and talented young backup pg that isn't afraid to take a clutch shot....reminds me of someone.

Right on my man! I read this story and was yelling at my computer. Just because this sports writers son doesn't know anything about the talent in the draft doesn't mean that there weren't a ton fans salivating as Kufos was passed upon from 18 all the way down to 23.

Kufos doesn't have all the skills we need from a big man, but he has more potential than any big in the draft.

Could it be that there was no booing because the fans have become accustomed to the Jazz M.O. of mediocrity

No one really believes that the Jazz are interested in taking the necessary steps to win an NBA championship.

Win enough games to keep the ESA seats reasonable full, but LHM will not spend the money to make the Jazz true championship contenders.

I love the post that stated that sports reporters should stick to reporting and not predicting, he is probably the same person that picks up the sports magazine that have sports writer predicting what is going to happen with their favorite teams in whatever sport he is writing about. I know this sports writer and I know the son he is talking about and they surely do know their stuff. Can they be wrong, sure, and they are sometimes wrong a lot of the times, but that is part of the job and part of being a sports fan. As for me, I think we need a good big man and I hope that this pick well help us over time. I don't know whats everyone reasoning in here that this guy doesn't know what he is talking about, he certainly does know his stuff beside he never said that Kufos wouldn't be good, just that is he compared favorably to Okur.

Who cares? Honestly I hope the best for Kufos, but what the jazz need to do is trade Boozer immediately to clear cap space and sign Brand and Maggette!!!

Koufos was the right pick. Utah's biggest need was at center, and he was the best one available at 23. It was a no brainer, and I'm sorry your kid doesn't know basketball well enough to know that it was a good pick. Not one site, analyst or "expert" had Koufos going below 21, so that tells me something. Also, Koufos has a similar game to Okur, and the last time I checked, Okur's style was doing pretty well for the Jazz. Regardless, Utah drafted a 7'1" center who has great range, decent athleticism and the ability to help defend by blocking shots. Why complain???

Side Note - Chalmers would have been a nice pickup had Utah been able to trade both 2nd rounders to move up to get him. He wasn't good for Utah at 23, but I would have loved to have the guy in the early 2nd.

Comparing a draft party at ESA to one involving Knicks fans is apples and oranges. Knicks fans boo everybody as a right of passage. Have you ever watched the NBA draft when Knicks fans don't hardcore boo everyone and anything. Sure Jazz fans boo in syncronicity when letting a ref know the Jazz need every call. But booing their own team is heard in a few scattered voices. Jazz fans love to be annoyingly positive, while Knicks fans adopt a disgustingly negative pattern.

Mike, your articles jump around so much that I get dizzy trying to read them.

Anyone who doesn't think Koufos was the right pick is an idiot. He may not be a what a we need, but he was by far the best available player. In fact, he shouldn't have even been available at 23. We needed a interior defense, but no good interior defenders were available, so while it may not be the perfect pick, it was the best we could do. You can not expect to get exactly what you want with the 23rd pick. It seems like people expect us to draft a player who will win us a championship next year. That is not easy to do with the 23rd pick. The jazz did a great job with the draft.

i really think we should of traded boozer to get the number 1 pick. Koufos will not play much considering we already have okur and boozer in the lineup. We should of added more depth at forward and guard, however i do strongly believe that we did get a steal at drafting koufos that late in the draft. Any ways. GO JAZZ

DEEE fense, DEEE fense, DEEE fense. That's why the Jazz drafted a center.

Or they could've drafter a corner back who could cover on 4th and 18.

"However, the simple fact is, Koufos fell to 23 for a reason or else a bunch of teams would have taken him."

I can't remember -- why is it other teams let Karl Malone fall to 13?

Why are you ragging on Greg Ostertag? No, he's not nearly as good as Shaq or Duncan. But was the 28th pick in the draft, and had a FAR more productive career than the average player picked so late.

Very good point 13-23 :)

Assuming that teams are somehow all-seeing is ignoring the reality of drafting, which is that it's as much an art as a science.

It impossible to know how well a player will end up playing, except for precious few cases like Shaq or LeBron James.

Even Michael Jordan was not a shoo-in when he was drafted, or he would have been picked #1. He was passed over. What do you think teams "knew" about him that they didn't choose him? ;)

SLC Gal and others.

The only people that ever under-rated John Stockton were (and are) sports journalists because they love to idolize people who give them countless interviews and want to be famous. It makes them feel important.

But people who actually know basketball, especially former players (like John Wooden, Bill Walton or Michal Thompson) almost to a Tee think Stockton one the best ever.