NY Knicks: Ranking Walt Perrin, Utah Jazz Top 10 draft picks

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SALT LAKE CITY – APRIL 25: C.J. Miles #34 of the Utah Jazz celebrates against the Denver Nuggets during Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2010 NBA Playoffs at EnergySolutions Arena on April 25, 2010 in Salt Lake City, Utah.The Jazz won 117-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

7) C.J. Miles 2005 NBA Draft (34th Overall Pick)

The 2005 NBA Draft marked the last season when high school players could get drafted into the NBA. By the end of the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft, two high school players came off the draft board.

The Jazz drafted C.J. Miles with the 34th overall pick due to his immense upside (at 18 years old). Since Miles didn’t sign with an agent, he had the option to attend college at the University of Texas while the team kept his draft rights. Perrin and the Jazz knew Miles would be a long-term project, but one that may prosper given the right amount of development.

As expected, Miles spent most of his first two seasons shuttling in between the Jazz and their G-League teams, the Albuquerque Thunderbirds & Idaho Stampede. He cemented a bench role during the 2007-08 season as he became a more adept scorer off the bench. His talents didn’t get unnoticed.

Miles signed an offer sheet with the Oklahoma City Thunder of 4-years, $14.8 million, one the Jazz matched (learning their lesson from the Mo Williams saga). Miles played well off the bench over his tenure with the Jazz before becoming a free agent in 2012.

Miles then signed a two-year contract with the Cavaliers before parlaying his performance into two successive contracts of 4 years/$18 million with the Indiana Pacers and 3 years/$25 million with the Toronto Raptors.

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