Category: Utah Jazz Blog

Jazz basketball blog – Utah Jazz blog

Jazz waive guard Nigel Williams-Goss

The Utah Jazz have waived guard Nigel Williams-Goss.

NBA preseason ends Saturday, and the regular season starts Tuesday. Teams around the league will steadily trim their rosters.

Listed at 6-foot-2, 188 lbs, Willliams-Goss played 10 games with the Jazz in 2019-20, averaging 1.4 points per game.

In the G League, he played in 17 games with the Salt Lake City Stars, and averaged 15.3 points on 50.8 percent shooting, 5.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 29.6 minutes per game.

He played college hoops at Gonzaga.

Jazz sign guard Trevon Bluiett

The Utah Jazz have signed guard Trevon Bluiett.

Bluiett, who is 26 years old and listed at 6-foot-6, 198 lbs., spent last season playing in the G League for the Salt Lake City Stars. In 41 games (15 starts), he averaged 14.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals in 29.3 minutes per game, shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from three-point range.

Bluiett played four years of college basketball, for Xavier.

Utah Jazz sign guard Shaquille Harrison

The Utah Jazz have signed guard Shaquille Harrison.

It’s reportedly a deal for the league minimum.

Listed at 6-foot-4, 190 lbs., this will be Harrison’s fourth NBA season.

Harrison played for the Chicago Bulls in 2019-20. In 43 games (10 starts), he averaged 4.9 points on 46.7 percent from the field, 2.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 11.3 minutes per game.

Per KSL.com, “He’s been an energy player on bad teams thus far, but his defensive metrics show he may have some true value. Last season, he was 15th in the NBA in Defensive Real Plus-Minus (for reference, Utah’s Rudy Gobert was first). Harrison’s 4.9 deflections per 36 minutes and 2.3 loose balls recovered per 36 minutes were among the league leaders according to NBA.com’s hustle stats. There are worse options for an end-of-the-bench player.”

Harrison has also played for the Suns, as well as in the G League for the Northern Arizona Suns.

Jazz sign former Seton Hall center Romaro Gill

The Utah Jazz have signed center Romaro Gill.

It’s likely just a non-guaranteed deal that brings Gill to Jazz training camp.

Gill (7-2, 255, Seton Hall) posted averages of 7.8 points on 62.8 percent shooting, to go with 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 blocks in 30 games during 2019-20. He ranked third in the NCAA and first in the BIG EAST in blocks per game, helping him earn 2019-20 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year and BIG EAST Most Improved Player.

The St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, native spent three seasons (one as a redshirt) at Seton Hall, appearing in 57 games (29 starts), owning career averages of 5.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 17.9 minutes per game. He began his collegiate career playing two seasons at Vincennes.

Utah Jazz bring back Derrick Favors, who played for Pelicans last season

Derrick Favors is back on the Jazz.

Utah yesterday signed the forward/center Derrick Favors to a contract that is reportedly a three-year deal for $27 million.

“Since he joined the Jazz originally during the 2010-11 season, Derrick Favors was an important part of the franchise and community,” said Jazz Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Dennis Lindsey. “We jumped at the chance to bring him back. His toughness, physicality and selflessness are key reasons he’s had such success in this league and we’re excited about what he brings to our team.”

Per the Salt Lake Tribune, “Favors’ return will shore up the team’s big-man minutes behind All-Star center Rudy Gobert, and give them the rotational flexibility to play two-big lineups when necessary.”

Favors (6-10, 265, Georgia Tech) spent the 2019-20 season with the New Orleans Pelicans, owning averages of 9.0 points on 61.7 percent from the field, a career-best 9.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24.4 minutes per contest.

The 29-year-old rejoins the Jazz after spending nine seasons with Utah from 2010-19. During those years, he averaged 12.1 points on 52.6 percent from the field, 7.4 boards and 1.2 assists in 26.3 minutes per contest. The Atlanta native ranks fourth in all-time Jazz rebounds (4,250), offensive rebounds (1,448) and field goal percentage (.526), as well as fifth in defensive rebounds (2,802), seventh in blocks (772) and field goals (2,821) and 10th in games played (576).

More from the Tribune: “Favors also was a popular figure not only among the Jazz fanbase, but within the locker room. He should bolster the second-unit scoring as well, given his established pick-and-roll chemistry with point-forward Joe Ingles.”

During his previous tenure in Utah, he helped the Jazz to four postseason appearances (2012, 2017-19), averaging 9.4 points on 57.4 percent from the field, 6.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 31 games (14 starts).

Drafted by the Nets with the third overall pick (first round) in the 2010 NBA Draft, Favors was originally acquired by Utah on Feb. 23, 2011 via trade.

Utah Jazz sign former BYU guard Jake Toolson

The Utah Jazz have signed guard Jake Toolson.

According to KSL Sports, Toolson signed an Exhibit 10 contract.

Per KSL, “Exhibit 10 contracts are one year NBA contracts for the league’s minimum salary. Traditionally, teams use exhibit 10 deals to audition a player during training camp, while retaining the option to assign that player to the team’s G League affiliate if they are waived.”

Toolson, listed at 6-foot-5, 205 lbs., played two seasons at BYU (2014-16) before transferring to Utah Valley (2017-19) and then returning to BYU (2019-20) for his final collegiate season.

In the 2019-20 NCAA season, Toolson averaged 15.2 points on 47.2 percent from the field and 47.0 percent from three, along with 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.6 minutes per contest, garnering 2019-20 All-WCC First Team accolades.

During his last season at Utah Valley, he was named the 2018-19 WAC Player of the Year.

The Gilbert, Ariz., native appeared in 136 games (105 starts) with BYU and Utah Valley, owning career averages of 11.0 points on 49.7 percent shooting and 43.3 percent from beyond the arc, to go with 3.8 boards and 2.4 assists in 25.7 minutes per contest.

Utah Jazz sign Trent Forrest and Jarrell Brantley to two-way contracts

The Utah Jazz signed guard Trent Forrest and forward Jarrell Brantley to two-way contracts today.

Forrest, listed at 6-foot-4, 210 lbs., played four years of college basketball at Florida State, where during his senior season he averaged 11.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He was named to the 2019-20 All-ACC Second Team.

Brantley, 24 years old, listed at 6-foot-7, 250 lbs., played in nine Jazz games last season, and averaged 2.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 10.7 minutes per game. He also played quite a bit in the G League, where in 33 games (all starts) with the Salt Lake City Stars he averaged 18.9 points on 51.6 percent shooting from the field, 7.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals in 32.5 minutes per contest Brantley’s fine play resulted in him being named to the 2019-20 All-NBA G League First Team and All-Rookie team.

He was originally drafted by the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft (50th overall), and was traded to the Jazz on draft night.

Utah Jazz sign rookies Udoka Azubuike and Elijah Hughes

The Utah Jazz yesterday signed center Udoka Azubuike and forward Elijah Hughes.

Selected 27th overall in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Jazz, Azubuike (7-0, 270, Kansas) was a four-year collegiate player and in 2019-20 posted averages of 13.7 points on 74.8 percent from the field, along with 10.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 31 games. Following his senior season, he earned Consensus 2019-20 All-America Second Team honors, also being named the 2019-20 Big 12 Player of the Year and garnering 2019-20 All-Big 12 First Team accolades.

For his career, the native of Lagos, Nigeria appeared in 87 games (79 starts) with averages of 12.3 points on 74.6 percent from the field, 7.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. He left Kansas as the school’s all-time leader in field goal percentage and eighth in all-time blocks (172).

Hughes (6-6, 215, Syracuse) was drafted 39th overall in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft by New Orleans and acquired by Utah on draft night. He led the ACC in scoring in 2019-20, averaging 19.0 points to go with 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.2 steals in 32 games (all starts). He was a 2019-20 All-ACC First Team selection and 2019-20 All-District pick by both the NABC and USBWA.

The Beacon, N.Y., native spent two seasons at Syracuse, appearing in 66 games (all starts), owning career averages of 16.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 34.6 minutes per game. He began his collegiate career at East Carolina in 2016-17.

Utah Jazz plan to allow some fan attendance at home games in 2020-21 NBA season

The Utah Jazz today announced that home games at Vivint Arena will be played with a limited number of fans when the NBA season begins in December amid a series of enhanced health and safety measures implemented throughout the building in consultation with the Utah Department of Health.

The arena will reopen with a reduced seating capacity of 1,500 in the lower bowl only and limited seating on the suite level. Lower and upper bowl season ticket members will be given priority access for socially distanced seating at Jazz games during the arena’s limited capacity.

“The Jazz believe this is a responsible way to start the season from a public health and safety standpoint. Our intent is to increase the number of fans as the season unfolds in compliance with state guidelines,” said Jazz President Jim Olson. “We want to reassure our guests that we are taking the utmost precautions to have a safe and enjoyable experience as they return. We are optimistic for the future and continue to closely monitor the public health situation with State of Utah, Salt Lake County, and Salt Lake City officials as well as the NBA.”

“The Utah Jazz have always been an important part of our community, and the team is making every effort to be an example for how we can start to safely resume these types of activities,” said Rich Saunders, interim executive director of the Utah Department of Health. “The Jazz are committed to working with public health professionals and to doing everything they can to ensure the health and safety of their fans, players, staff, and arena employees by implementing important safeguards and limiting the number of people who can attend games in-person. We certainly look forward to welcoming the Jazz back.”

Any preseason games at Vivint Arena will be played without fans next month. The league recently announced that the 2020-21 NBA season will begin on Dec. 22 and continue through May. The official 72-game schedule will be announced later.

Utah Jazz re-sign Jordan Clarkson

The Utah Jazz have re-signed guard Jordan Clarkson.

Clarkson’s contract is reportedly a four-year, $52 million deal, with the final season a player option.

“Jordan was an integral part of our team’s success last season,” said Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Dennis Lindsey. “He’s an aggressive, competitive talent that leads by example and provides a big scoring spark. He is a great fit with our roster and we’re excited to bring him back.”

Clarkson (6-5, 192, Missouri) was acquired by the Jazz via trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 24, 2019. In 41 games as a Jazzman, he averaged 15.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24.7 minutes off the bench, while shooting 46.2 percent from the field. Clarkson ranked sixth in the NBA in reserve scoring (15.2 points) and knocked down the fourth most three-point field goals (152) among reserves in 2019-20. The six-year pro totaled 19 games with 20-plus points and three games with 30-or-more last season.

Per the Salt Lake Tribune, “Clarkson was a huge midseason pickup for Utah this past season, sparking a previously flaccid second unit with his high-octane style, and earning rave reviews from teammates and for his patented “good vibes” persona that made him an instant locker room fit.”

The guard appeared in all seven 2020 postseason games for the Jazz, averaging 16.7 points on 46.4 percent shooting, to go with 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 28.6 minutes per game as a reserve.

Per the Deseret News: “When the Jazz made the move to bring Clarkson to Utah, they knew they needed a scoring boost on the bench and ended up with even more than they had bargained for with Clarkson sometimes taking over in games when the stars were having an off night.”

Drafted in the second round (46th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft by Washington (traded to Lakers on draft night), the San Antonio, Texas native has appeared in 453 career games (140 starts) with the Lakers, Cavaliers and Jazz with career averages of 14.8 points on 44.6 percent shooting, 3.1 boards and 2.6 assists in 27.0 minutes per contest. Following his first season, he was named to the 2014-15 All-Rookie First Team.