I have been cursed by a witch to repeatedly travel back through time to relive every NBA draft. Fortunately, her spell sends me directly to the Utah Jazz war room on draft night and all the executives magically know I’m from the future and will do whatever I say. Unfortunately, the curse prevents me from seeing how my advice altered the future, as I am sent back to the previous year as soon as draft night ends.
June 28, 1983 – Madison Square Garden, New York City
Previous season:
The 1982-83 season was difficult for the Jazz, but full of promises. An injured wrist cost Adrian Dantley 60 games and two-time All-Star John Drew (recently acquired in the Dominque Wilkins trade) spent half the season in rehab, battling his cocaine addiction. So it's little surprise that Utah was only able to win 30 games. But the young roster had some bright spots. Darrell Griffith and Rickey Green made a formidable backcourt (Green led the league in total steals). And rookie Mark Eaton quickly established himself as one of the best shot-blockers in the NBA.
The draft:
With the seventh pick, Utah selected North Carolina State power forward Thurl Bailey.
The Jazz didn't have a second-round pick this year because they traded it to Dallas in 1980 for Billy McKinney.
In the third round, the Jazz used the 54th pick on a shooting guard from Iowa named Bob Hansen.
The Jazz drafted seven other players, none of whom ever played a single NBA game. But just for fun, here are their names:
76. Doug Arnold, TCU
100. Matt Clark, Oklahoma State
122. Fred Gilliam, Clemson
146. Gerald Kazanowski, Victoria, Canada
168. Michael McCombs, College of Santa Fe
191. Ron Webb, Oklahoma Christian University
211. Odell Mosteller, Auburn
Analysis:
The Jazz desperately needed a power forward (both Dantley and Drew were really small forwards). Utah had two quality power forwards available at the seventh spot — Bailey and Antoine Carr. Of course, Carr would eventually become a major contributor on the Jazz '97 and '98 Finals runs (and my favorite player in my childhood), but the Jazz were really impressed with Bailey's personality. And there is a lot to be said about that.
Bailey ended up being a perfect fit in Utah, becoming a fan favorite and perennial contender for Sixth Man of the Year (although he never won that award). Even after he was surprisingly traded for Tyrone Corbin, Bailey still chose to return to Utah for one last season in 1999 and made the state his permanent home. He even joined Utah's predominant faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he's been a fixture of Jazz broadcasting for years, currently providing color commentary alongside Craig Bolerjack.
This was a good draft pick. BUT! I don't feel good about repeating it. One of the NBA's all-time greats fell to No. 14 in this draft. I know it doesn't make much sense to bring in shooting guard Clyde Drexler when Griffith is still good and young, and the Jazz really, really need a big man, but I don't care! You simply cannot pass on a player who made 10 All-Star games and was named to the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams. I'd simply have to tell the Jazz front office to move some players around and trust me that this would work.
Hansen ended up being the best player taken in the third round by far. He gave the Jazz seven solid seasons, even once receiving votes for Defensive Player of the Year. He's also technically the NBA's career leader for 3-point percentage in the playoffs, but he only made 38 3-pointers, so does it really count? Anyway, he gave the Jazz a lot more than you would normally expect from the third round, so I have no problem drafting him again.
As I said earlier, none of Utah's other picks even played in the NBA. And of the remaining players, there's only one that caught my eye: Sedale Threatt, a West Virginia Tech guard who somehow put together a very successful 14-year NBA career. So I'd grab him in the fourth round and see what happens.
My advice:
1. Use the seventh pick on Clyde Drexler.
2. Use the 54th pick on Bob Hansen.
3. Use the 76th pick on Sedale Threatt.
4. Dealer's choice for the remaining picks!
I know I just added three guards to a team that already has a decent backcourt. But these were the best players available. And who knows? Maybe the Jazz would be able to trade Griffith away for a halfway decent power forward. I'm just having a fun time imagining Clyde the Glide in a Jazz jersey!
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