Utah Jazz Blog – Page 6 – NBA Blog

Jazz sign Jeenathan Williams, waive Darryl Morsell

The Utah Jazz have signed guard/forward Jeenathan Williams.

And in a related move, the team has waived guard Darryl Morsell.

Williams (6-5, 205, Buffalo) was a four-year collegiate player at Buffalo, appearing in 122 career games (84 starts), owning averages of 12.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 23.5 minutes per contest. As a senior in 2021-22, he averaged 19.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.4 steals in 29 games (all starts), earning 2021-22 All-MAC First Team honors.

The Rochester, N.Y. native played with the Utah Jazz entries at the Salt Lake City Summer League and NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. In Salt Lake City, he averaged 6.0 points and 5.5 boards in two appearances and in three games (one start) in Las Vegas, posted averages of 5.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 10.6 minutes per contest.

Morsell (6-5, 205, Marquette) was signed by the Jazz on Oct. 9, 2022.

Utah Jazz sign Darryl Morsell, waive Saben Lee

The Utah Jazz have signed guard Darryl Morsell.

And in a related move, the team has waived guard Saben Lee.

Morsell (6-5, 205, Marquette) was a five-year collegiate player with Maryland (2017-21) and Marquette (2021-22). During his final season, he owned averages of 13.4 points on 44.6 percent shooting, along with 3.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 steals in 31 games (all starts). In his final season at Maryland, he was named the 2020-21 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and garnered All-Big Ten Defensive Team honors.

For his career, the Baltimore, Md., native appeared in 157 games (138 starts), averaging 9.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 28.4 minutes per contest.

Lee (6-2, 183, Vanderbilt) was originally acquired via trade on Sept. 26, 2022 from Detroit.

Jazz trade Bojan Bogdanovic to Pistons for Kelly Olynyk and Saben Lee

The Utah Jazz have acquired center/forward Kelly Olynyk, guard Saben Lee and cash considerations in a trade with the Detroit Pistons for forward Bojan Bogdanović.

Bogdanović, 6-7, 226, averaged 18.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 30.9 minutes per game with the Jazz last season. He’s averaged 18.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists over the last three seasons in Utah while shooting 45% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. Bogdanović has also made 150-plus 3-pointers in each of his last five seasons.

Drafted 31st overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, Bogdanović played professionally overseas before coming to the NBA in 2014. In 603 career NBA games, he’s averaged 15.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists with Brooklyn, Washington, Indiana and Utah.

Born in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bogdanović began his professional career in Europe, most notably, with Real Madrid in Spain and Fenerbahce in Turkey. He helped lead Fenerbahce to a Turkish Cup win in 2013 and a Turkish Supercup and Turkish League championship in 2014.

Olynyk (6-11, 240, Gonzaga) is entering his 10th NBA season, having appeared in 610 games (166 starts) with Boston (2013-17), Miami (2017-21), Houston (2020-21), and Detroit (2021-22), owning career averages of 10.1 points on 47.6 percent from the field, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 22.0 minutes per contest. A native of Kamloops, British Columbia, spent last season with the Pistons, playing in 40 games (one start), averaging 9.1 points, 4.4 boards, and 2.8 assists in 19.1 minutes. Following his first professional season in 2013-14, Olynyk was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

The 31-year-old was a three-year collegiate player at Gonzaga (2009-13), where during his senior season, he averaged 17.8 points on 62.9 percent shooting, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 26.4 minutes per contest, garnering 2012-13 Consensus All-America First Team, All-WCC First Team, and WCC Player of the Year honors. He has represented the Canadian Men’s National Team in multiple events since 2010.

Lee (6-2, 183, Vanderbilt) is entering his third NBA season, having spent two seasons with Detroit, owning career averages of 5.6 points, 3.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 85 games (seven starts). Originally drafted with the 38th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Jazz, he was traded to Detroit on Draft Night. In 2021-22 he appeared in 19 games with the Motor City Cruise of the NBA G League, averaging 24.0 points, 7.2 assists, 4.8 boards, and 2.3 steals in 36.8 minutes per game, earning 2021-22 All-NBA G League Second Team honors.

Utah Jazz sign Cody Zeller

The Utah Jazz have signed center Cody Zeller.

The deal is reportedly a training camp contract.

Per the Salt Lake Tribune, “the 29-year-old Zeller signed a minimum deal with Portland last year but fell out of the NBA after suffering a knee injury that required surgery. The Trail Blazers waived him in early February.”

Zeller (6-11, 240, Indiana) is entering his 10th NBA season, owning career averages of 8.5 points on 52.0 percent from the field, along with 6.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 494 games (273 starts) with Charlotte (2013-21) and Portland (2021-22). He has additional postseason experience, competing with Charlotte during the 2014 and 2016 playoffs, appearing in 11 games (two starts), averaging 6.1 points and 4.2 boards in 17.3 minutes per game. He was taken with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft by Charlotte, and following his rookie season, he was named to the 2013-14 All-NBA Rookie Second Team.

The native of Washington, Ind., played two-collegiate seasons at Indiana, averaging 16.1 points, 7.3 boards, 1.3 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.2 steals in 72 games (all starts), earning 2012-13 Consensus All-American Second Team and All-Big Ten First Team honors. During his freshman season at Indiana, he was named the 2011-12 Big Ten Freshman Team and garnered 2011-12 All Big-Ten Second Team and All-Big Ten Freshman Team accolades.

Utah Jazz waive Paris Bass and Xavier Sneed

The Utah Jazz have waived forwards Paris Bass and Xavier Sneed.

Bass (6-8, 200, Detroit-Mercy) spent the 2021-22 season with the Phoenix Suns and the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League. With the Suns, he appeared in two games, averaging 3.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 3.5 minutes per contest and with South Bay posted averages of 17.4 points, 7.0 boards, 1.7 assists, and 1.4 steals in 26 games (one start).

Sneed (6-5, 215, Kansas State) appeared in seven games during the 2021-22 season with the Jazz on a two-way contract. He averaged 15.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals in 15 games last season with the Salt Lake City Stars.

Utah Jazz announce full coaching staff for the 2022-23 NBA season

The Utah Jazz announced today that Alex Jensen, Lamar Skeeter, and Bryan Bailey will serve as assistant coaches on first-year head coach Will Hardy’s staff with Evan Bradds, Irv Roland, Sean Sheldon, and Jason Terry. Chris Jones and Sanjay Lumpkin will serve as player development coaches. In addition, Jeff Hornacek will rejoin the Jazz as a coaching consultant, and Becca Ward will serve as director of team operations.

Jensen will enter his 10th season as assistant coach for the Utah Jazz. Jensen’s coaching experience includes one season as a player development assistant with the Jazz and two seasons as the head coach of the NBA Development League’s Canton Charge. Jensen served as head coach of the 2022 USA Basketball AmeriCup Team, which earned bronze at the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup.

Skeeter concluded his sixth season as an assistant coach with the Jazz in 2021-22 after spending the previous two seasons as a player development/video analyst. Before moving to Salt Lake City, Skeeter spent a season with the Atlanta Hawks as a basketball operations intern in the summer of 2013 before transitioning into the player development/video intern for the 2013-14 campaign.

Bailey concluded his third season with the Jazz player development department in 2021-22 after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant coach for the Salt Lake City Stars. Prior to joining the Stars, he spent the 2016-17 season as an assistant coach for the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League.

Bradds will join the Utah coaching staff, most recently serving as a player enhancement coach for the Boston Celtics in 2021-22. He has additional coaching experience as an assistant for the G League’s Maine Red Claws in 2017-18 and as a video analyst with the Celtics (2018-20).

Terry joins the Jazz after most recently being the head coach of the G League’s Grand Rapids Gold in 2021-22 and an assistant coach at the University of Arizona in 2020-21. Prior to his coaching professions, Terry had an illustrious 19-year NBA career (1999-18), playing for six different teams and earning an NBA Championship in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks.

Roland will enter his second year on the organization coaching staff. Roland is a longtime basketball coach, player development specialist, player, and basketball trainer, having last coached in the NBA with the Houston Rockets. He got his start in the NBA in 2004 as a video assistant with the Boston Celtics and went on to work in various roles in video and player development with the Hornets, Suns and Rockets.

Sheldon will be in his first season on the Jazz coaching staff, previously spending five seasons with the San Antonio Spurs in various capacities, including head video coordinator, assistant video coordinator and quality assurance assistant. Prior to his time with the Spurs, he served as a graduate assistant at Michigan State while earning his master’s degree in 2017-18. Prior to entering coaching, he played professionally in Switzerland in 2016-17 after a four-year career at William and Mary.

Jones is in his fourth season, and Lumpkin is in his third season with the team, previously serving in the development/advance scouting and video department. Jones was a four-year collegiate player at Pittsburgh (2013-17) and Lumpkin competed five seasons at Northwestern (2012-17) going on to play two seasons in the NBA G League with the then Erie BayHawks (2018-20).

Hornacek rejoins the Jazz previously serving as an assistant coach with the franchise from 2011-13. He has other prior coaching experience with the Houston Rockets as an assistant (2020-22), head coach of the New York Knicks (2016-18) and Phoenix Suns (2013-16). As a player, he appeared in 1077 games (910 starts) with Phoenix (1986-92), Philadelphia (1993-94) and Utah (1994-00). His jersey was retired by the Jazz on Nov. 19, 2002.

Additionally, Anthony Beaumont will serve as video coordinator with Andrew Warren and Matthew Temple serving as assistant video coordinators on Hardy’s staff.

Utah Jazz sign Paris Bass

The Utah Jazz yesterday signed forward Paris Bass.

Bass (6-8, 200, Detroit-Mercy) joins the Jazz after most recently spending the 2021-22 season with the Phoenix Suns and the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League. With the Suns, he appeared in two games, averaging 3.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 3.5 minutes per contest and with South Bay posted averages of 17.4 points, 7.0 boards, 1.7 assists, and 1.4 steals in 26 games (one start).

The native of Birmingham, Mich., has additional professional experience playing in the BSN of Puerto Rico with Atleticos de San German in 2019-20 and 2020-21. During the 2020-21 season, he posted averages of 22.9 points on 50.1 percent from the field, along with 9.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.3 steals in 34.4 minutes per contest. During the 2016-17 season, he competed for the Erie BayHawks of the G League, appearing in 15 games, and averaging 3.9 points and 2.7 rebounds.

Jazz trade Donovan Mitchell to Cavs

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired NBA All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell in a trade with the Utah Jazz, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

In exchange, Cleveland has sent guard Collin Sexton (via sign and trade), forward Lauri Markkanen, guard Ochai Agbaji and three future unprotected first round draft picks (2025, 2027, 2029) to Utah, while also agreeing to swap picks in 2026 and 2028.

“The acquisition of Donovan Mitchell presented us with an incredible opportunity to bring one of the NBA’s most dynamic young All-Stars to Cleveland,” said Altman. “Already a special and proven talent at just 25-years-old, Donovan brings a competitive mentality that organically fits with the core group of this team. We are excited to see the impact that someone of Donovan’s caliber can bring to the Cavaliers with his ability to score the basketball, but also make plays for his teammates. We welcome Donovan and his entire family to Northeast Ohio. I also want to thank Collin and Lauri for their contributions to our team as well as Ochai, who has a very promising future in this league. The Cavaliers have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for all three players and wish them and their families all the best in Utah.”

Mitchell (6-3, 215), who was a 2022 NBA All-Star, played in 67 games (all starts) for the Jazz last season while averaging 25.9 points (9th-best in NBA), 4.2 rebounds, a career-high 5.3 assists, and a career-best 1.5 steals in 33.8 minutes. He also made 3.6 three-pointers per contest, which was the fourth-highest in the league, and scored at least 20 points on 52 occasions and 30-plus points in 23 outings. Mitchell earned Western Conference Player of the Month for games played in December 2021, the first Jazz player to earn the accolade since Deron Williams in November 2010, and was the Western Conference Player of the Week for Nov. 29-Dec. 5, 2021. Additionally, he averaged 12.4 points as the ball-handler in pick-and-roll plays (2nd-best in NBA) and had the highest effective field goal percentage (.538) of the top five players in that category. Mitchell’s 232 three-pointers were tied for seventh in the NBA and was the fifth straight season he had knocked down over 170 threes. On March 16 versus Chicago, he connected on a career-best nine three-pointers and scored 37 points, including 25 points in the third quarter, tying the Jazz franchise record for a single period.

A three-time NBA All-Star (2020-22), Mitchell owns career averages of 23.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals in 33.7 minutes over 345 games (337 starts) in five NBA seasons, all with Utah. He leaves the Jazz ranking second in their team’s history in three-pointers made (958) and eighth in points scored (8,234). Mitchell is also just the sixth player in NBA history to total over 8,000 points, 1,500 assists and 1,400 rebounds through their first career 345 contests, joining LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Michael Jordan, Pete Maravich and Oscar Robertson. The 6-3 guard has also reached the playoffs in all five of his NBA seasons, appearing in 39 total postseason games (all starts) with averages of 28.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.18 steals in 37.0 minutes per contest. An NBA All-Rookie First Team selection (2018) and NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (2018), Mitchell was originally selected by Denver as the No. 13 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft before being traded to the Jazz on draft night.

Sexton (6-1, 192), who appeared in 11 games (all starts) with the Cavaliers last season before missing the final 71 contests due to a left knee meniscus tear, finished the 2021-22 campaign with averages of 16.0 points, a career-high 3.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.91 steals in 28.7 minutes. Selected as the No. 8 overall pick by Cleveland in the 2018 NBA Draft, Sexton owns career averages of 20.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists in four NBA seasons with the Cavaliers.

Markkanen (7-0, 238) was acquired by Cleveland in a sign and trade agreement from the Chicago Bulls on August 28, 2021. In his lone season with the Cavaliers (2021-22), Markkanen played in 61 games (all starts), averaging 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 0.74 steals in 30.8 minutes. Markkanen owns career averages of 15.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in 29.7 minutes during his five NBA seasons (four with Chicago and one with Cleveland).

Agbaji (6-5, 215) was selected by the Cavaliers with the 14th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Agbaji started in all 39 games this past season as a senior at Kansas, averaging a Big-12 leading 18.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in a team-high 35.0 minutes. Agbaji was named the 2022 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and also finished as a 2021-22 consensus All-American First Team selection, the 2021-22 Big-12 Player of the Year and Big-12 Male Athlete of the Year.

Jazz reportedly trading Donovan Mitchell to Cavs

The Utah Jazz are reportedly trading star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Via the Salt Lake Tribune:

The guard was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, for a haul that includes three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps.

Yahoo’s Chris Haynes added that the Cavs are also sending Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, and 2022 first-round pick Ochai Agbaji to Utah.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Sexton is coming to the Jazz via a four-year, $72 million sign-and-trade. His deal is fully guaranteed.

The deal was neither sudden nor surprising when viewed through the lens of the team’s recent deconstruction process, the admission from the front office that the team’s window of contention had closed, and the corresponding declaration that no one on the team was “untouchable,” and the subsequent weeks of reports that the Jazz were fielding offers for him.

Jazz trade Patrick Beverley to Lakers for Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson

The Los Angeles Lakers yesterday acquired guard Patrick Beverley in a trade with the Utah Jazz for guard Talen Horton-Tucker and forward Stanley Johnson, it was announced by Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka.

“We are thrilled to add Patrick Beverley’s toughness and competitive spirit to our team,” Pelinka said. “We’re confident that Patrick’s ‘3-and-D’ style will fit in nicely with the other pieces of our roster and align perfectly with Coach Ham’s philosophy of hard work and smart play.”

Beverley (6’1”, 180) averaged 9.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 58 games (54 starts) for the Minnesota Timberwolves last season. In 526 career NBA games (438 starts) across 10 seasons with Minnesota (2021-22), LA Clippers (2017-21) and Houston (2012-17), he has averaged 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 27.4 minutes per game, shooting 37.8 percent from 3-point range.

Across 65 career playoff games (54 starts) with the Timberwolves, Clippers and Rockets, Beverley has averaged 8.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 26.7 minutes per game, while shooting 36.1 percent from beyond the arc. The Chicago native received All-Defensive First Team honors in 2017 and Second Team honors in 2014 and 2020.

Horton-Tucker (6-4, 233, Iowa State) is entering his fourth NBA season and in 2021-22 with the Lakers, averaged 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steals in 60 games (19 starts). Originally drafted in the second round (46th overall pick) in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Chicago native has spent his entire professional career with the Lakers, appearing in 131 games (34 starts), owning career averages of 9.3 points, 2.8 boards, 2.6 assists, and 1.0 steals in 22.1 minutes per contest.

Johnson (6-6, 242, Arizona) has seven years of NBA experience with the Pistons, Pelicans, Raptors, and Lakers, appearing in 419 career contests (104 starts), averaging 6.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 20.1 minutes per game. Originally drafted with the eighth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Pistons, the Fullerton, Calif., native saw action in 48 games (27 starts) in 2021-22, averaging 6.7 points on 46.6 percent from the field, 3.2 boards, and 1.7 assists.

Horton-Tucker will wear no. 0, and Johnson will wear no. 2 for the Jazz.