‘Prince: A Number 23 in 2002′ (Gregory Shamus - NBAE/Getty Images)

With the 2008 NBA Draft only a few days away many Jazz fans (including myself) have been scouring the internet and listening to talk radio trying to figure out what Jazz mastermind Kevin O’Connor and crew might be planning to do with the 23rd pick. ESPN’s Chad Ford recently posted his most updated mock draft projecting the Jazz to pick JaVale McGee from the University of Nevada. When a name like this pops up it is very easy for us Jazz fans to instantly think he is going to be the missing piece of the puzzle pushing the team over the top to an NBA Championship in 2009.In an attempt to bring the truth to the Jazz nation, I have performed a historical analysis of the players selected with the 23rd pick in NBA Drafts since 1980. (Before 1980 the 23rd pick did not exist) Let’s take a look at the picks since 1980 to get a better idea of the type of player that is generally available.Without further adieu here is a list of every player ever selected 23rd overall:

2007 - Wilson Chandler
2006 - Josh Boone
2005 - Francisco Garcia
2004 - Sergei Monia
2003 - Travis Outlaw
2002 - Tayshaun Prince
2001 - Brandon Armstrong
2000 - DeShawn Stevenson
1999 - Devean George
1998 - Tyronn Lue
1997 - Bobby Jackson
1996 - Efthimis Rentzias (Lunch to the first person who can tell me anything about him w/o using google)
1995 - Travis Best
1994 - Wesley Person
1993 - Ervin “Not So Magic” Johson
1992 - Lee Mayberry
1991 - Stanley Roberts
1990 - Anthony Bonner
1989 - Roy Marble
1988 - Jerome Lane
1987 - Greg Anderson
1986 - Ken Barlow
1985 - A.C. Green
1984 - Earl Jones
1983 - Mitchell Wiggins
1982 - Darren Tillis
1981 - Charles Bradley
1980 - Carl Nicks

Out of this group there was only 1 All-Star. A.C. Green was voted as a starter for the 1990 All-Star game over Karl Malone. Leading to this performance by Malone who felt slighted.

Other than A.C., the only other player I would consider being above average would be Tayshaun Prince. The rest of the player are average players or scrubs who never panned out in the league.

With that in mind what should we really expect out of the 23rd pick this year? Probably not a lot which is why I am hoping the Jazz will find a way to trade the pick and save the money and roster spot. Unless Efthimis Rentzias is eligible to draft again this year.

Sponsored By: Barry’s Tickets - Click here to get your tickets to the next big event.