Roy Hibbert A Fit?

Posted by David James on June 09, 2008

‘Hibbert: Jazz Bound?’ (Chuck Burton - Associated Press)

About 85% of the mock drafts out there predict that the Jazz will take former Georgetown big man Roy Hibbert in this months NBA Draft.

ESPN’s Chad Ford says, “Is there a better fit for Hibbert than Utah? He needs a team that excels in half-court sets. His size and scoring ability make him an asset as long as you don’t ask him to run the floor or play 40 minutes a game. ”

The Jazz got their first look at the 7′2″ draftee in a workout this morning at the Zion’s Bank Basketball Center. Jazz Vice President of Basketball Ops Kevin O’Connor says that Hibbert is a proven product having played 4 years at Georgetown, and the Jazz having over 100 games of video of Hibbert.

Hibbert for his part, said that Utah was “a must” on his list of team that he had to work out for. He told the gathered media that he has video of most of Carlos Boozer’s in game post touches in a library he used to better his own game by watching how Boozer scores around the hoop. He also talked about how he’d love to be “a cog” in the Jazz system and sees it a perfect fit for his game.

While Hibbert was excited to be in Utah working out for the Jazz, it was his first NBA Draft workout. Hibbert said that it may have been the reason why he was a bit dissappointed in his performance. Hibbert felt that he was too tense and tenative in his play, but hopes that the Jazz brass consider his body of work, not just his draft workout performance .

Hibbert went back to Georgetown for his senior year, and it will likely cost him in the draft. Last year he was projected as a lottery pick, while this year he could be around at the Jazz pick of 23. Hibbert told me that he didn’t regret the decision, because he got his degree and also feels more ready for the NBA mentally.

What’s your take on Hibbert?

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7 Comments

justalkars on June 09, 2008 said:

I like Hibbert. I think he could be as good as Mutumbo. Plus looking at alll the Hall of Famers coming out of Georgetown how can you pass him up. I’m a Hibbert Fan!

dave on June 09, 2008 said:

hibbert would be a great fit in utah plus it would give us a decent big man in the middle we need a big man that shoot a mid range jumper and some one that can score inside to take some of the pressure of booz

Tom on June 10, 2008 said:

Well i think that Hibbert would be a welcome player for the jazz, however The Jazz want to win a title now! How about trading for someone like Elton Brand from The LAC, give up the draft pick and maybe even someone like a Carlos Boozer. One duke player for the other. He would fit in well Jerry sloans style of basketball better than Carlos. Why? Because Brand plays Defense!

dave on June 10, 2008 said:

Well Tom lets think about this, you want to trade an allstar for a players who is often hurt and is only good cause he is the teams only option, but you are correct the jazz do want to win a title now but not at the expense of trading thier terrific nucleus of players. To do it the jazz are building a dynasty with the players they have now, they will be good enough soon enough and not only that why would you trade away boozer for a player on the down side of his career?

mitch on June 12, 2008 said:

I say we trade boozer also I dont know for who, but we need to because look at how much boozers stats dropped in the playoffs. If he would have played like he did in the regular season we could have beat the lakers. I am also a fan of hibbert he is that big man presence we need on defense. He can block shots and work well in the low post he is a nice fit for the jazz.

go jazz

Dane on June 13, 2008 said:

Hibbert would be good for setting picks for Deron, Korver, and Harpring around screens. I think the kid from Cal is a little bit more athletic and may have more upside, but the Jazz are wanting to win now. I think that the Jazz will entertain offers for Boozer but 95% chance he is coming back, then leaving next year.

Aldeez on June 15, 2008 said:

It’s going to be pretty hard for the Jazz to win a title with our front court. It’s too soft right now, there is a chance Boozer will opt out next year and Okur has an early termination clause in his contract next year. I think this season will decide who we throw our money at and who we let walk away. We can go big and have Okur play his natural position of PF this would be good on both ends of the floor. He can spreads out the defense with his jumper and he’s been working on his post game so we could have a good inside and out game, but he doesn’t run the pick’n'roll well. We’d also have one of the tallest front courts with our PF being 6′11 and a center being 7+. If we keep Boozer we have one of the best offensive PF’s in the league who has great chemistry with our franchise player. That pick’n'roll will only get better the longer the play together. Boozer’s defense would look better next to a traditional center and our rebounding would most likely go up.