Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has waived guard Sundiata Gaines, guard/forward Othyus Jeffers, forward Demetris Nichols and guard Ryan Thompson. The Jazz roster now stands at 13.
Gaines (6-1, 200, Georgia) appeared in four preseason contests with the Jazz (all as a reserve), averaging 5.0 points, and 2.3 assists in 11.0 minutes a game. He saw action in 32 games with Utah last season after being called up from the NBA D-League’s Idaho Stampede on January 5, 2010. Gaines averaged 3.3 points, 0.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 6.5 minutes for the Jazz in 2009-10.
Jeffers (6-5, 210, Robert Morris (IL)) played in five preseason games (one start) for the Jazz, averaging 6.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 8.6 minutes. He also appeared in 14 games with Utah last season following his call-up from the D-League’s Iowa Energy on March 4, 2010. Jeffers averaged 2.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 5.1 minutes for the Jazz in 2009-10.
Nichols (6-8, 215, Syracuse) appeared in four preseason contests (one start) with the Jazz, averaging 5.0 points and 1.5 rebounds in 10.8 minutes. He previously played in 18 games over two seasons (2007-09) with Cleveland, Chicago and New York and spent the 2009-10 season with BCM Gravelines of the French League.
Thompson (6-6, 218, Rider) appeared in five preseason games (one start) with the Jazz, averaging 2.6 points and 0.8 rebounds in nine minutes a game. He went undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft following four seasons at Rider.
