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Chicago • Jakob Poeltl could easily have been in this position last year.
Had he left the University of Utah, he may have been a lottery pick, according to many scouts. Some team in the first round certainly would have taken a chance on his size, his athleticism and his skill set. And the coaching staff at Utah wouldn't have begrudged him one bit for wanting to make a living.
But he did what has become the unpopular thing among hot draft prospects — he came back to school. He chose to refine his game.
"I could've gone, but I didn't think I was ready," Poeltl said at the NBA pre-draft combine. "I felt I had a lot of improving to do."
Mainly, Poeltl wanted to prove he could be the focal point of a major college basketball team. So he led the Utes to a second-place finish in the Pac-12 and the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Poeltl wanted to show he could be dominant on the collegiate level. So he became an All-American and possibly the best natural big man in the country. Poeltl wanted to improve his overall skills. So he turned some of his negatives into strengths, like his free-throw shooting. He became a great rebounder and was a major factor on both ends of the floor.
Now, NBA general managers are impressed. Instead of being a potential lottery pick, Poeltl's now considered a lottery lock. He's one of the headliners in the draft, a near certain green room invitee and someone who will probably be off the board before the Jazz draft, which is expected to be at No. 12.
Not bad for a 7-footer who came to Salt Lake City a little over two years ago out from Austria.
"We've really admired his progression, and how much he's improved," Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey said. "We admire that he decided to come back, because he could've been a first-round pick last year. But he came back, he and the coaches went to work and he became a better player. It speaks well of Jakob that he put in the time and the work. It was a great job by their staff to help him get to where he is now. So now, we're watching and we're anxious to see where he goes."
Poeltl was a partial participant in this week's combine, meeting with various teams, as well as undergoing testing and measurements. The good news for him is that he measured out at a full 7-foot-1. The negative is that his arm length measured out short for a player of his size.
But that isn't expected to be a deterrent for teams selecting in the lottery. Currently, his stock is projected as high as fifth. The Milwaukee Bucks, who are projected to pick 10th, are said to have a keen interest, as they sorely need a natural center. Ironically, that position's been fluid ever since the days of Andrew Bogut, the current Golden State Warriors center who came from Utah and someone Poeltl is compared to.
Poeltl interviewed with 14 teams this week, many of which hold lottery picks. He didn't interview with the Jazz on Thursday or Friday, but Utah is trying to set up a sit-down with him this weekend. The Jazz are also interested in having Poeltl come to Salt Lake City for a workout.
"I want to enjoy this process as much as possible," Poeltl said. "I truly think it's a once in a lifetime kind of thing. At the same time I want to be good at it, and I know that the interviews are important. Teams have asked me about my background, because they know I come from Austria. They want to know how I got into basketball. They want to just get to know me."
So why is Poeltl so appealing? Obviously, his size has a lot to do with it. But his ability to move in space out on the floor has won him many a fan among scouts and general managers. In today's small-ball NBA, athletic big men are at a premium, and Poeltl is certainly athletic.
He runs the floor well, has good footwork, finishes above the rim and defensively he protects the rim. He emerged as a very good pick-and-roll defender this past season at Utah, and that's important because the league is littered with great point guards who create expertly off the dribble.
During his interview session, Poeltl seemed confident and at ease with himself. He was calm as he gave every question a thoughtful answer. It may not have been that way last year. But a more mature Poeltl now has a better idea of what to expect.
"He's gotten a lot better," Jazz vice president of player personnel Walt Perrin said. "He's matured on and off the floor, and it's made him a better prospect overall. He's shown growth, but at the same time he still has a pretty good upside."
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Jakob Poeltl update
• Was the Pac-12 Player of the Year this past season and a second-team All-American
• Is currently projected to be a top-10 pick in the June 23 NBA draft. Has interviewed with teams such as the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks
• Is one of four players at the combine this week with ties to the state of Utah. He measured out at 7-foot-1 in shoes, which makes him the tallest person at the combine