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As Randy Rigby walked to the podium to announce the Jazz's first draft pick Thursday night, lightning cracked in clouds of electricity hanging thick in EnergySolutions Arena. Or so it seemed.

Kyrie Irving had been taken at No. 1, Derrick Williams at No. 2.

With the third pick, Rigby said, the Jazz were taking … were taking … while we're young … taking … Enes Kanter.

Thunder followed the lightning.

A crowd of thousands in the building exploded with applause … for good reason. It was a smart move. Not only did the Jazz finally fill a severe need — remember Greg Ostertag, Curtis Borchardt, Kosta Koufos, Robert Whaley, and Kyrylo Fesenko — with a talented, natural 6-foot-11, 259-pound center, they also kept alive for many Jazz fans the hope for a chance at Jimmer Fredette.

Jimmer's BYU jersey, after all, was not only hanging in bulk on racks in stores on ESA's main concourse, it was on the backs of many in attendance.

The shot had grown longer and longer throughout the afternoon, though, as word leaked that Sacramento had essentially moved down in the draft from No. 7 to No. 10, presumably set on taking Fredette.

But Jimmer in recent times had specialized, more than anyone else, in the art of hitting the long shot. The Jazz, however, had not, finishing in the bottom third of the NBA last season in 3-point shooting. And they couldn't hit this one, either, despite the fact that Kevin O'Connor said afterward Fredette was "in our top 10 on the board."

The Jazz would have taken him had Sacramento not stolen him away. As it was, they sat back and watched Milwaukee take Fredette at No. 10 for the Kings, O'Connor unable or unwilling to interfere via any kind of preemptive move.

Mark it down, then. At 6:28 p.m. on Thursday, June 23, Jimmermania died in Utah.

Some fans booed. Some looked as though they had been hit with a hammer. A few cheered.

Back at draft central in New Jersey, in a televised interview, Jimmer said he was stoked about the prospects of dressing out for the Kings, saying: "[This] plays into my strengths."

If Jimmer fans wanted Fredette to arrive at a place where he would get an opportunity to play, Sacramento was exactly the best place for him. He could be the starting point guard there, right from jump. If they wanted him to go to a winner, or go to the Jazz, well … tough luck.

With Jimmer off the board, O'Connor walked comfortably to the podium some 10 minutes later, and announced the Jazz's selection at No. 12: Ronnie Brewer … uh, no, Alec Burks, the 6-6 shooting guard out of Colorado.

Before stepping away from the house microphone, O'Connor asked: "Any questions?"

Yeah.

Why take a shooting guard who can't shoot?

There were reasons, foremost among them Burks' versatility. "He's got some skills with the ball," O'Connor said.

Still, the slasher pops from the perimeter as though he were hanging Sheetrock on naked studs. He nailed only 29 percent of his 3-point attempts in college.

Can he improve that stroke?

"I feel like I can," he said. "I'll keep working on it. … I'll do anything I need to do for the team to win."

The missed chance at outside shooting — snatched away from the Jazz when Fredette and Klay Thompson, who went 11th to Golden State — left them with an unfilled hole.

The good news for the Jazz: They did the best they could on the inside. They made a strong selection with Kanter, who has worked hard on his face-up game — "He can knock down the 15-footer," O'Connor said — and likes to get dirty down low. Too many modern centers think they are guards.

Not Kanter.

"I'm so happy the Utah Jazz picked me," he said. "I want to play tough. I love to play in the post and rebound."

For the Jazz — who now, mixed among their veterans, feature a formidable young front line that includes promise all around: Kanter in the middle, Derrick Favors on the left, and Gordon Hayward on the right — Thursday night wasn't perfect, but it had at least the look and feel of a success.

Said O'Connor: "We're going to find out."

GORDON MONSON hosts "The Gordon Monson Show" weekdays from 2-6 p.m. on 104.7 FM/1280 AM The Zone. He's at gmonson@sltrib.com.