Taylor Griffin hopes Thursday night's NBA draft becomes a family affair.
Griffin's younger brother, Blake, is the consensus No. 1 pick who will be playing for the Los Angeles Clippers next season.
Taylor Griffin's future isn't as certain.
After a workman-like career at Oklahoma, the 6-foot-7 forward is considered a second-round pick, at best, That's why he joined Xavier's Derrick Brown, Pitt's Sam Young, Washington's Justin Dentmon and Florida State's Toney Douglas for Saturday's pre-draft workout at the Jazz's practice facility.
Utah owns the No. 20 pick in the first round and the No. 50 overall pick in the second round.
"I'm hearing mid-to-late second round," said Griffin, who averaged 9.8 points and 5.8 rebounds as a senior. "There are a few teams that like me but, even if I don't get drafted, I think I've given myself a good opportunity to get on a roster somewhere."
Jazz vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor believes Griffin has a chance.
"I told him this," O'Connor said. "They certainly had marquee players at Oklahoma, but if you really look at the nuts and bolts of their team, Taylor was a big part of them winning 30 games.
"His contribution was much bigger than his numbers, whether it was his defense or setting screens or him just being a tough kid. His statistics don't really indicate how important he was."
Toughness?
Griffin learned a lot during his boyhood battles with his brother.
"For awhile, it was real ugly," Griffin said. "My mom had to put an end to some of our games. ... We're both pretty tough. So we never had to go to the hospital or anything. But there was plenty of blood -- black eyes, bloody noses. But nothing serious."
Griffin's workout with the Jazz was his last before the draft. He already auditioned for Atlanta, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland and Oklahoma City. He also participated in a multi-team workout in New Jersey.
"It's going to be a great night for our family," Griffin said. "Hopefully, I'll get picked, too, and it will be a really great night."
