BOMBSHELL: Kevin Pelton’s Draft Model PREDICTS Utah’s Pick | Is Kon Kueppel is right choice?
David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, examines the NBA Draft prospects for the Utah Jazz’s fifth pick. He analyzes Kevin Pelton’s draft projection model, which ranks Kon Knueppel as the second-best player. Locke breaks down Knueppels strengths, including his elite shooting ability, and potential weaknesses in defense and ball-handling.
The podcast also explores other draft prospects like Will Riley from Illinois, a potential target for the Jazz’s 21st pick. Locke discusses Riley’s performance at Illinois, his combine measurements, and how he compares to other prospects in pick-and-roll and isolation situations. The episode provides valuable insights for Jazz fans eagerly anticipating the upcoming draft and its impact on the team’s future.
0:00 Intro: NBA Draft board and Jazz predictions
5:44 Kevin Pelton’s draft projections for 2024
14:02 Analyzing Kon Knueppel’s draft profile and skills
19:37 Knueppel’s offensive game and NBA comparisons
25:17 Will Riley: Potential Jazz pick at 21st
31:31 Outro: More draft analysis coming tomorrow
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26 Comments
Just trade out of the first round of this draft altogether and get picks in the next 2
I was convinced the moment you said, "he's really thick downstairs."
I think Knueppel looks a lot like Danny Ainge. And I'm all for drafting the best shooter in the draft. He seems like a bull-dog to me, which I also really like. IMO there's no way we don't draft him unless we trade up, which I don't see happening.
I would take Miles Byrd at 21. An actual 3 and D wing.
Kon is great at 5. At 19 years old, he starts out as good as Joe Ingles was in his prime. This is a fine piece of the puzzle.
Do we really want to draft another guard who isn't a great defender?
So basically just as inconsistent as everyone else who evaluates talent
Taking Kon Kneuppel at 5 is the sort of thing that should get you fired. I'm not kidding. Bad defender, no burst, no lift. Are we giving up on trying to find a star?
The kid will be good. He will be a rotation player in the NBA. His best outcome is a less athletic Bojan Bogdanovic. That's not great when you're looking for a star player.
Love the shirt.
He's really thick downstairs -david locke 2025
Simple answer, no. The Jazz are guaranteed one of VJ, Ace, or Tre so taking neither and settling on Kon is just bad drafting
Would be idiotic to pass Edgecombe or Johnson at 5. If Jazz also want Nippel, then trade to get #7 or 8.
We should have drafted Matas Buzelis last year and we would be looking real good for the future. Instead drafting Williams who just looks like slow and meek with non aggressive traits and just shoots 3 pointers only avg 11 points for Colorado! Garbage compared to Buzelis who attacks the rim and is taller than Williams and can shoot and block shots… if they switched races Buzelis would have been a top 3 pick and Williams would have been 2nd rounder if not even drafted. Kon K. is a far better player than Williams who we just need to admit is a BUST.
Kon Knueppel best comp: Joe Harris but way better scorer shooter offensive player…think like Wally Szcerbiak/Joe Johnson 2 feet player shooter strength savvy style will use his size shoulders knack in NBA to succeed around rim.
I just don't see it. He doesn't look athletic enough to defend at a high level or get to the rim and get to his spots. But I have heard scouts really like his game so maybe he will be good. I have watched him play like 4 times I am no expert haha so maybe they should take him since I know nothing.
Smart , healthy , shooter , in the WWF style of NBA , sounds like a stronger version of Jeff Hornacek who was a pretty good option . Spot up shooters seem to do well . Ingles was pretty good in his prime . Strong body, good instincts, coachable are all positive . Played in the shadows , may emerge in the pros . Not much risk
Kon is the next Danny Ainge!
Just more analytical BS. Kon would be a bad pick at 5.
Kon at 5 is a mistake because we still need a star. But he would likely be a reliable pick. I just don't think now is the right time for the organization to draft a guy like that.
Egor at 5🎉
Well he looks right out of Utah (and I don't just mean white) Like if I saw him serving me a dirty soda through a drive thru window in Pleasant Grove, I wouldn't bat an eye, even knowing who he is.
You can get a white spot up shooter in the second round
Would rather take Cedric coward with our second pick
Between this and his Fears take, Locke's analysis of the game is really getting worse and worse. Must be a side effect of paying so much attention to the analytics he can't understand what he's actually watching anymore.
Ace, VJ, Tre, Queen, Essengue, Demin, Sorber are all guys i'd instantly take before Nipple. Taking him would be bad enough but taking him at 5 would be criminal when you could trade back a few spots and get another pick.
I think Locke needs to get out of the analytical goo he's trapped in.
It would be nice to have a true shooter, true baller instead of athlete, I see Austin reeves ++Luka lite
So we went from looking to draft a potential franchise prospect to Yay! He will probably play in the league!
Kon very well may turn out to be a great player. I think he has a high floor and will be a good role player for a good team.
But the jazz purposely threw away an entire season to get a top 5 pick. They need to use it on a guy who has star potential, not just starter potential.