So who's in the NBA draft again?

With the Jazz doomed to have their first first-round exit from the playoffs since John Stockton's retirement, the Jazz find themselves in a position they weren't supposed to be in. They have a first-round pick. This pick was traded away when they swapped Gordon Giricek for Kyle Korver, but it was protected up to #22. Surely the Jazz were going to compete for the Northwest Division title and finish with a record that would put them lower than #22, right?

Well, now they have the 20th pick. So what might they do with it?

Let's assume everyone who can opt out does, leaving the Jazz with less than half their roster signed. What do they do?

They could go point guard. Either Stephen Curry or Jeff Teague will likely be available, and they could groom him into the solid backup that neither Brevin Knight or Ronnie Price have proved to be, and both of them will be free agents.

Center? The Jazz are always looking for big men, and they could get another OSU player with BJ Mullens. Okur might walk, but I can see the Jazz matching whatever offer he can find within reason. Jarron Collins and/or Kyrylo Fesenko won't be back.

Power forward. One of Carlos Boozer or Paul Millsap will be gone next year, so the Jazz need to think about their bench. Tyler Hansbrough should be there, and he's the height (6'8") the Jazz have found success in their rebounders. Kentucky's Patrick Pattersen may fall to them too.

Wingman? I seriously doubt this. Unless they plan to let Kyle Korver and Morris Almond walk, and trade away C.J. Miles, this is the last position they need to look at.

Personally I can see the Jazz using the pick in a trade more than anything else, and I hope it's not one of those give-away-for-free Phoenix type trades either.

Andrei Kirilenko, CJ Miles and the #18 pick to Sacramento for the #1 pick! heh heh

Lakers beat Jazz easily

The Jazz have been stumbling as of late anyway, but with no Mehmet Okur, they had no prayer against the Lakers for Game 1. The Lakeshow got everything they wanted, and with no Okur to spread the floor, Pau Gasol and Andrew bynum were able to hang out in the paint.

Carlos Boozer still got his points, but he's 6'8", Paul Millsap is 6'7", and Gasol and Bynum are both 7-footers. This would mean they'd need AK47 to be his old help-defense self, but that guy disappeared once the long contract was signed. Remember when Kirilenko was in the Top 5 in the league for blocks and steals? Yeah, thems were the days.

Utah Jazz's downhill spiral

This was supposed to be the most talented Jazz team assembled since John & Karl had their dreams crushed by the Bulls. Three former All-Stars on the team (Boozer, Kirilenko, Okur) and a fourth guy that should be (Deron Williams). Talented youngsters that play above their draft status (Ronnie Brewer, Paul Millsap). One of the best catch-and-shoot three-point aces in the game (Kyle Korver). Not to mention C.J. Miles, Matt Harpring, and Brevin Knight, making this one of the deepest teams in the league. If only they could get over their injuries.

If the Jazz get bounced in the first round by the Lakers, which they almost certainly will, this will make it the most disappointing Jazz season since their 26-56 abhorration. Many guys will be free agents, or have potential to be. Assumign those who can opt out, will, that would leave the team with Williams, Kirilenko, Brewer, Miles, Harpring, and Kosta Koufos. A roster of 15 down to 6. Factor in a first-round pick they thought they would lose but is now protected, and that's 7. so who of the 9 comes back?

The biggest three are Boozer, Okur and Millsap. No way all three will be back, as D-Will and AK-47 are already on max contracts. Boozer has had injuries hamper three of his four seasons here. He might want max money but his health demonstrates that only a foolish team should give it to him. Okur won't make much more on the open market than he already makes, but he and his agent might decide that this year is a better time to go shopping than the Class of 2010. Millsap meanwhile has shown when he gets the time he's worth more than a midlevel.

Something has soured in the chemistry of this team. Boozer came back in the middle of a 12-game winning streak, but their efforts have clearly lacked in the past three weeks. Their rebounding is down, their opponents' scoring is up.

I think it's hurt them to not have Larry H. Miller around to push them. The coach is the main guy, but it's as though he's been tuned out. But LHM had the clout to say "I personally am paying you millions. Now where's your effort?"

Lakers in 5.