This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Enes Kanter and Alec Burks actually look older than Gordon Hayward, which is not saying much.
The Jazz formally introduced their newest, youngest players Friday, mixing hope for the franchise's future with the reality that this thing will take awhile to build.
So just how much understanding will be required?
"It depends on our record," said Jazz CEO Greg Miller. "If we're winning, then it won't take much patience."
If they're not winning, well, that's a whole other issue.
The improvement is unlikely to come suddenly. Not with the potential of having four rotation regulars between the ages of 19 and 21. As coach Tyrone Corbin said after Thursday's draft, "Well, that's who we have. We have to play somebody."
Some of the bodies in question are four of the top 21 players taken in the last two drafts: Kanter, Burks, Derrick Favors and Hayward. That foursome is a nice foundation, amid several variables.
A likely lockout will keep NBA teams from conducting summer programs, just when the Jazz could benefit tremendously from working with their young players. The irony is the Jazz are among the small-market teams that have the most at stake in a new collective bargaining agreement, and they need to hold out for a deal that will give them a chance to keep a developing team together.
Regardless, whenever the Jazz play basketball games again, this process will be fascinating and frustrating, rewarding and discouraging.
The kids will grow up, but not fast enough.
"We live in such an impatient world in sports," said Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor.
That's not news to anyone. Yet in drafting where he did, O'Connor knew his team was going to get younger before it got older, which may also mean it will get worse before it gets better.
Except for the occasional Jimmer Fredette, most top-12 picks are a composite character of Favors, Hayward, Kanter and Burks, who played a combined five years of college basketball and were drafted on risk-reward potential.
Miller publicly advised the 2011 draftees about Jazz fans: "One thing's for sure: They reward effort."
They also seem to like winning. If there's a guarantee that the Jazz will become like Oklahoma City, developing into Western Conference finalists in a few years, fans will play along. Otherwise, they'll become testy.
"The fan base is looking for growth and potential," said Jazz president Randy Rigby. "We have a well-educated fan base who I think as they see a plan and a strategy, they'll embrace it."
Only if all of that is accompanied by results. So this sets up as a huge test for Corbin, with 28 games of head coaching experience. He's unproven, and so is a big chunk of his team.
Seated next to the newcomers Friday, Corbin said, "Because of the makeup of the team and the fact we are restarting this thing, there will be an opportunity to play."
That's exciting. That's also frightening.
Personally, I'm intrigued by the Jazz's draft class of '11. Kanter has some personality, kind of like Kyrylo Fesenko — only with talent and drive. Burks is confident and highly motivated to overcome doubters, whether real or imagined.
The worst part is that as of Friday afternoon, when Kanter (Olden Polynice's old No. 0) and Burks (Howard Eisley's No. 10) posed for photos with their Jazz jerseys, nobody could say for sure when they would actually wear those uniforms — or even practice gear, for that matter.
The lockout is coming. The rebuilding project will be idled, leaving only more guessing about what will become of these guys, and when it will happen.
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