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With less than a month to go until the NBA draft, Denzel Valentine is picking his spots.
The former Michigan State star and college basketball's player of the year last season was in Salt Lake City on Friday for his first pre-draft workout with any NBA team. Valentine has only three other stops — Milwaukee, Chicago and Orlando — scheduled before June 23.
"His agent said he's not concerned about the number in terms of where he is in the draft. He's more concerned about a good fit," Jazz vice president of player personnel Walt Perrin said.
Scour the internet's endless supply of mock drafts and you'll see that the 6-foot-5 Valentine is a popular choice for the Jazz's No. 12 pick. And after his workout Friday in Utah, Perrin said he thought Valentine and the Jazz could indeed be a good match.
"He would fit with our team structure and how we play and how he plays," Perrin said. "He's a pretty good shooter and I think he's going to become better. He does pass the ball extremely well, which [head coach Quin Snyder] likes. And I think he would fit in in Salt Lake City."
Valentine, who shot 44 percent from 3 last season, said he could see himself playing both guard positions in Utah.
"I know they have [Danté] Exum at the point," he said. "Me and him could take turns. Or I could play off guard, just another guy who can play in pick-and-roll and be able to guard [multiple positions] as well and make plays that way."
A four-year player at Michigan State, the 22-year-old Valentine is among the older lottery hopefuls. But Valentine — who averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists a game last season for the Spartans — said his growth each season should be seen as a sign of better things to come.
"I plan to do that at the next level, too," he said.
Collinsworth enjoys the moment
Growing up in Provo, former BYU star Kyle Collinsworth grew up watching the Jazz and going to games with his father.
On Friday, he got a chance to work out for the team.
Collinsworth, who notched an NCAA-record 12 triple-doubles during his collegiate career, has been jetting around the country over the past month, trying to audition for a spot in the NBA.
"The biggest thing is trying to stay in the moment," he said. "You travel a lot. I'm trying to just enjoy each city I go to. Do fun things, relax and stay in the moment. … I'll only do this once, this process. I try to make the most of it."
On the court, Collinsworth said he's consistently heard from teams that he must improve his shooting.
"Keep developing my shot," said the swingman who hit just 28 percent from deep during his four years with the Cougars. "I didn't shoot a lot of 3s in college and it's a little deeper, but I've made improvements."
Like a Glove
There's not a place Gary Payton II goes that someone doesn't ask him about his Hall of Fame father. But as the former Oregon State standout tries to impress NBA coaches and scouts, he believes he's shown he is more than just a familiar name.
"I think I created my own path," Payton said.
That path included a two-year stop at Salt Lake Community College.
"They taught me a lot," said Payton. "They changed my game and got me prepared for the next level."
Some of Payton's former coaches were on hand Friday to watch him work out for the Jazz.
"They just told me I did good. It was good to see them," he said. "They just won a JuCo championship, so we talked about that. I'm mad because they did it right after I left, but you know it's all love."
Pocket change
Former Runnin' Ute wingman Dakarai Tucker was also among the six players who worked out for the Jazz on Friday. Tucker said it was his first workout for an NBA team, though he remained hopeful he would be able to schedule more before the draft.
Tucker, meanwhile, has plans to participate in this summer's The Basketball Tournament, teaming up with other former Utes for a chance at winning $2 million.
Tucker's plans for the cash should he win?
"Just save it," he said with a smile. "I'm trying to pocket that."
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