This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Utah Jazz adding some big pieces to its rebuilding effort, selecting 6-foot-11 Turkish center Enes Kanter with the No. 3 and 6-foot-6 Colorado guard Alec Burks with the No. 12 pick of the 2011 NBA Draft.
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The 19-year-old Kanter is seen as one of the elite rebounders and inside scorers in this year's draft. Kanter impressed Jazz officials with a pre-draft workout in Chicago, and Jazz coach Ty Corbin was reported to have "instantly connected" with him when they met.
The team hopes Kanter, who was ruled ineligible by the NCAA to compete for the University of Kentucky last college season, will shore up the frontcourt for the Jazz, who struggled at the end of last season. In a video interview broadcast to EnergySolutions Arena, Kanter said he was eager to join the Jazz roster.
"I'm so happy. I'm so excited for you guys," he said. "I know Utah Jazz fans are crazy and I love them. I will bring toughness and post moves, rebounding — everything. I will try to do everything to make the playoffs."
Utah followed the pick by using the No. 12 selection to take 19-year-old Burks, who averaged over 20 points per game and six rebounds per game last season as a sophomore for the Buffaloes. Lightly recruited out of high school, Burks said being drafted by the Jazz fulfilled a long-time dream.
"I'm just glad to be in the NBA," Burks said. "I'm glad to go to a great organization like the Utah Jazz. Versatility, hard work, I'll do anything I need to do for my team to win."
Jimmer Fredette, who led the nation in scoring last season playing for BYU, went 10th overall with a pick acquired by the Sacramento Kings. Prior to the draft, Utah had been rumored to be looking to trade their No. 12 pick for a chance to get into a higher position to draft the star guard.
But in all, Jazz GM Kevin O'Connor was happy with the draft, as were about 7,500 fans who came to the team's draft party at EnergySolutions Arena. The crowd response was generally positive — a turn from last year's choir of boos when Utah drafted Gordon Hayward of Butler University ninth overall.
"[With Kanter's selection], I think everybody recognized the player we got was worth the pick," O'Connor said. "I think the key thing is we've added a couple more pieces that can grow."
The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Duke point guard Kyrie Irving with the first pick, and followed up with Texas forward Tristan Thompson at No. 4. The Minnesota Timberwolves took Arizona forward Derrick Williams with the second overall selection.
The Toronto Raptors rounded out the top five by picking Jonas Valanciunas of Lithuania.
The Jazz's draft picks should be a critical factor as O'Connor and Corbin attempt to strengthen a Utah team that collapsed down the stretch last year.
It is the organization's first draft since the abrupt retirement of Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan and trading away star point guard Deron Williams. The Jazz initially started the 2010-2011 season in winning fashion, but ended with a tailspin and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
The current Jazz roster boasts two 2010 lottery picks. Power forward Derrick Favors was selected by the New Jersey Nets last year with the third overall pick before being packaged and sent to Utah in a deal for Williams. The Jazz picked Hayward with the ninth overall pick. —
2011 NBA Draft order
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers • Kyrie Irving, 6-foot-3, Duke
No. 2 Minnesota Timberwolves • Derrick Williams, 6-foot-9, Arizona
No. 3 Utah Jazz • Enes Kanter, 6-foot-11, Turkey
No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers • Tristan Thompson, 6-foot-8, Texas
No. 5 Toronto Raptors • Jonas Valanciunas, 7-foot-0, Lithuania
No. 6 Washington Wizards • Jan Vesely, 6-foot-11, Czech Republic
No. 7 Charlotte Bobcats (via trade with Sacramento Kings) • Bismack Biyombo, 6-foot-9, Congo
No. 8 Detroit Pistons • Brandon Knight, 6-foot-3, Kentucky
No. 9 Charlotte Bobcats • Kemba Walker, 6-foot-1, Connecticut
No. 10 Sacramento Kings (via trade with Milwaukee Bucks) • Jimmer Fredette, 6-foot-2, BYU
No. 11 Golden State Warriors • Klay Thompson, 6-foot-7, Washington State
No. 12 Utah Jazz •Alec Burks, 6-foot-6, Colorado
No. 13 Phoenix Suns • Markieff Morris, 6-foot-10, Kansas
No. 14 Houston Rockets • Marcus Morris, 6-foot-9, Kansas
No. 15 Indiana Pacers • Kawhi Leonard, 6-foot-7, SDSU
No. 16 Philadelphia 76ers • Nikola Vucevic, 6-foot-11, USC
No. 17 New York Knicks • Iman Shumpert, 6-foot-5, Georgia Tech
No. 18 Washington Wizards • Chris Singleton, 6-foot-9, Florida State
No. 19 Milwaukee Bucks (via trade with Charlotte Bobcats) • Tobias Harris, 6-foot-8, Tennessee
No. 20 Minnesota Timberwolves • Donatas Motiejunas, 7-foot-0, Lithuania
No. 21 Portland Trail Blazers • Nolan Smith, 6-foot-3, Duke
No. 22 Denver Nuggets • Kenneth Faried, 6-foot-8, Morehead State
No. 23 Houston Rockets • Nikola Mirotic, 6-foot-10, Montenegro
No. 24 Oklahoma City Thunder • Reggie Jackson, 6-foot-3, Boston College
No. 25 Boston Celtics • Marshon Brooks, 6-foot-5, Providence
No. 26 Denver Nuggets (via trade with Dallas Mavericks) • Jordan Hamilton, 6-foot-8, Texas
No. 27 New Jersey Nets • JaJuan Johnson, 6-foot-10, Purdue
No. 28 Minnesota Timberwolves (via trade with Chicago Bulls) • Norris Cole, 6-foot-1, Cleveland State
No. 29 San Antonio Spurs • Cory Joseph, 6-foot-3, Texas
No. 30 Chicago Bulls • Jimmy Butler, 6-foot-8, Marquette