Utah Jazz Blog – Page 39 – NBA Blog

Jazz sign Chris Johnson to 10-day contract

Jazz sign Chris Johnson to 10-day contract

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed forward Chris Johnson of the NBA Development League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers to a 10-day contract. Johnson becomes the NBA’s 24th overall NBA D-League Call-Up of the 2014-15 season and the 22nd different player to be called up.

Following the move, the Jazz roster now stands at 15 players.

The 24-year-old Johnson (6-6, 201, Dayton) appeared in 14 games (all starts) for the Vipers this season, averaging 20.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals in 35.3 minutes per contest. He scored in double figures on 13 occasions and recorded 20-plus points in eight games, including one 30-point contest. He started the 2014-15 season with the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 6.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 20.8 minutes while scoring in double figures twice in nine games (two starts), before being waived on Nov. 15.

Johnson has spent portions of three seasons with the 76ers (2014-15), Boston Celtics (2013-14) and Memphis Grizzlies (2012-13), appearing in 57 NBA games (two starts) and owns averages of 5.8 points and 2.4 rebounds in 18.9 minutes per game and has scored in double figures 12 times. He has also appeared in 73 D-League games (58 starts) over three seasons for Rio Grande Valley, holding averages of 14.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.6 steals in 31.4 minutes. He was a member of the Vipers’ 2013 D-League Championship team, a 2014 NBA D-League All-Star selection and was recently named to the 2015 NBA D-League Showcase Second Team.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Johnson played four seasons at Dayton (2008-12), where he earned Atlantic 10 All-Championship Team honors following his junior season and was the 2010 Atlantic 10 Most Improved Player recipient and helped lead the Flyers to a 2010 NIT championship. He was not selected in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Johnson becomes the 15th D-League Call-Up in Jazz history, and the fourth this season.

He will wear uniform #23 for the Jazz.

Jazz sign Elijah Millsap to multi-year contract

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed guard/forward Elijah Millsap to a multi-year contract.

Millsap signed the first of two 10-day contracts with the Jazz on Jan. 5 and has appeared in 10 Jazz games since, averaging 5.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 20.4 minutes.

When the Jazz signed him from the NBA Development League’s Bakersfield Jam, Millsap (6-6, 215, Alabama-Birmingham) became the 12th overall NBA D-League Call-Up of the 2014-15 season. At the time of his call-up, Millsap was averaging 20.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.1 steals in 36.6 minutes per contest in 19 games (16 starts) for the Jam. He recorded eight double-doubles, including one triple-double (26 points, 16 rebounds, 12 assists vs. Rio Grande Valley on Nov. 18). He scored in double figures on 18 occasions and recorded 20-plus points in 12 games.

A native of Monroe, La., Millsap played two seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette (2006-08) before transferring to University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) (2008-10) and was not selected in the 2010 NBA Draft.

Rodney Hood out through mid February with foot injury

The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood, who left in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game at San Antonio with a left foot injury:

After returning to Salt Lake for further evaluation, Rodney Hood was examined by the Utah Jazz medical staff and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) testing this morning through official Jazz health care partner, University of Utah Health Care. The MRI results showed a recurrence of inflammation in Hood’s left foot. As a result, Hood’s left foot will be placed in a boot for approximately one week during which time he will continue to receive treatment. Following the removal of the boot, Hood will begin conditioning, restricted weight training and light court work. Hood will remain out through the NBA All-Star Break, at which point his status will be reevaluated.

The 22-year-old Hood (6-8, 215, Duke) has appeared in 24 games (five starts) as a rookie, averaging 5.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.3 minutes. He was originally selected in the first round (23rd overall selection) of the 2014 NBA Draft, becoming the first former Duke player ever to be drafted by the Jazz.

Jazz sign Elliot Williams to second 10-day contract

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed guard Elliot Williams to a second 10-day contract. Williams signed his first 10-day with the Jazz on Jan. 7 and has appeared in three Jazz games since, averaging 2.7 points in 8.6 minutes.

When the Jazz signed him from the NBA Development League’s Santa Cruz Warriors, Williams (6-5, 190, Memphis) became the 13th overall NBA D-League Call-Up of the 2014-15 season. At the time of his call-up, Williams was averaging 21.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 37.2 minutes in 16 games (all starts) for Santa Cruz. He recorded five double-doubles and scored in double figures in all 16 games. Williams scored 20-plus points in 10 games and 30-or-more points twice.

A native of Memphis, Tenn. and former McDonald’s All-American, Williams played one season at Duke (2008-09) before transferring to the University of Memphis (2009-10). He was originally selected in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.

Jazz sign Elijah Millsap to second 10-day contract

The Utah Jazz have signed guard/forward Elijah Millsap to a second 10-day contract.

Millsap signed his first 10-day with Utah on January 5. He has appeared in five Jazz games since, averaging 5.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 24.0 minutes. Which is more playing time than most players who sign a 10-day deal tend to receive.

Jazz cut Toure` Murry to clear roster space

Here’s the Salt Lake Tribune reporting Jazz news from Sunday:

Toure’ Murry finally got into the books Saturday night.

A day later, he’s off of the roster.

The Utah Jazz on Sunday waived the second-year combo guard, clearing a roster spot that sources say will be used to bring guard Elijah Millsap up from the D-League.

With injuries to Alec Burks, Rodney Hood and Patrick Christopher, the Jazz have been in search of help at the wing and Murry apparently was not in the team’s plans going forward.

Utah Jazz waive Toure` Murry

The Utah Jazz have waived guard Toure’ Murry.

Murry (6-5, 195, Wichita State) was originally signed as a free agent on Aug. 28 and appeared in one regular season game for the Jazz. He also had two assignments with Jazz’s exclusive NBA Development League affiliate, the Idaho Stampede (Nov. 13-Dec. 2 and Dec. 31-Jan. 3), where he saw action in seven games (six starts) and averaged 13.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.1 steals in 31.3 minutes of play.

Following the move, the Jazz roster now stands at 14 players.

The team is 12-22 so far this season. They’re being led by small forward Gordon Hayward (18.9 ppg), Derrick Favors (15.4 ppg), Enes Kanter and Alec Burks, who both average 13.9 ppg — though Burks is injured and will miss the rest of the season.

Rodney Hood out one week with foot injury

Rodney Hood was examined by the Utah Jazz medical staff and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) testing yesterday at the University of Utah. The MRI results showed inflammation in Hood’s left foot. As a result, Hood’s left foot will be placed in a boot and he will continue to participate in treatment, conditioning and restricted weight training for approximately one week at which time he will be reevaluated.

The 22-year-old Hood (6-8, 215, Duke) has appeared in 22 games (five starts) as a rookie, averaging 5.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 18.2 minutes. He was originally selected in the first round (23rd overall selection) of the 2014 NBA Draft, becoming the first former Duke player ever to be drafted by the Jazz.

Jazz assign Toure` Murry to D-League

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has assigned guard Toure’ Murry to the NBA Development League’s Idaho Stampede, the Jazz’s exclusive D-League affiliate. Murry is expected to be in uniform for the Stampede’s game Friday, Jan. 2 against the Bakersfield Jam.

This will be the second assignment this season for Murry, who was previously assigned to Idaho from Nov. 13-Dec. 2. In six games (five starts) for the Stampede, Murry averaged 14.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.3 steals in 31.5 minutes of play. Murry recorded two double-doubles, scoring in double figures in five of his six games and reached 20-plus points once. He has not yet appeared in a game this season for the Jazz.

Murry (6-5, 195, Wichita State) is the ninth different player in Jazz history to be assigned to the D-League, and the first under the new Jazz-Stampede single affiliation. Other players on the current Jazz roster with D-League experience include Patrick Christopher, Ian Clark, Rudy Gobert, Jeremy Evans and Steve Novak.

Alec Burks out for season with shoulder injury

Jazz guard Alec Burks out for season with shoulder injury

The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks, who has missed the last two games with a left shoulder injury:

After examination by the Utah Jazz medical staff it has been decided that Alec Burks will undergo a surgical repair on his injured left shoulder. The procedure will be performed by Jazz head orthopaedic team physician, Dr. Travis Maak, on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at the University of Utah. As a result, Burks will miss the remainder of the 2014-15 season. He is expected to be ready for the start of 2015 Jazz training camp.

“Alec’s long-term health has been our top priority throughout this process, and although it is unfortunate that we will be without his services on the court the rest of this season, we commend Alec’s commitment and continued effort to play through considerable pain to this point,” said Jazz General Manager Dennis Lindsey. “After continued consultation with our medical staff, Alec and his representation, we have unanimously agreed that it would be most prudent for Alec to have this procedure performed now in order to ensure that he will be healthy and ready for the start of next season.”

The 23-year-old Burks (6-6, 211, Colorado) appeared in 27 games (all starts) with the Jazz this season, averaging 13.9 points and career-highs of 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 33.3 minutes. He also was shooting a career-high .382 from three-point range and .822 from the line while scoring in double figures in 22 of 27 games, reaching 20-plus points four times, and registered his first two career double-doubles. Prior to missing the last two games, Burks had seen action in 105 of a possible 111 games over the past two seasons, including 78 games in 2013-14. The fourth-year guard was originally selected by the Jazz in the first round (12th overall selection) of the 2011 NBA Draft.