SB Nation User Blog: Ute Awe Man

Jazz match offer for CJ

Ute Awe Man — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:17:52 -0000

According to the SLTrib...

The Jazz decided Friday to match the four-year, $15 million offer sheet restricted free-agent guard C.J. Miles signed last week with Oklahoma City, according to a source close to the situation.
Miles, 21, will remain with the Jazz, the team that drafted him in 2005 out of high school. Miles averaged 5.0 points in 60 games last season as one of three young guards -- including Ronnie Brewer and Morris Almond -- on the Jazz's roster.

Caught this on espn's sports nation chat today...

Ute Awe Man — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:39:35 -0000

David Thorpe was the guy chatting. He has bee working with Fesenko. A couple comments that were interesting... particularly the second one. Doesn't sound like Fess is too interested in putting in hard work... at least that is Thorpe's opinion.

Clark (Durham, NC): How did Fesenko look at the IMG? Does he still have what it takes to become a stud in the league?

David Thorpe: He barely practiced when I was there. Sick, injured, etc. He could be a max player, or he could end up back in Ukraine.

Chad (Sacramento): Do you like Koufas in Utah? I think he will beat out your boy Fess for minutes. He seems more serious than Fess and Utah has a very no nonsense coach.

David Thorpe: I need to see KK. But yes, he is likely more serious about getting better. Most are, compared to Fes. The competition will be good for both guys.

according to the desnews... Jazz and D-Will agree to deal.

Ute Awe Man — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:40:44 -0000

There will be a press conference tomorrow. Seems to be good news...

The Utah Jazz and point guard Deron Williams will make an announcement of agreement on a contract extension during a news conference that will be held Friday.

"There's going to be a great announcement tomorrow afternoon in Salt Lake City," said Williams' agent, Bob McClaren, from his Houston office. "One that will make everyone happy, I think."

The Jazz and Williams' camp have been discussing an extension on Williams' rookie contract since the negotiating period for doing so opened July 1. Length of the extension is not known but Williams is thought to have been contemplating a three-year extension that would begin in the 2009-10 season and include a player option on a fourth season of extension while the Jazz were hoping to extend him for the full five years allowable.

A max money contract, based on the projected $60 million team payroll salary cap, would start at $15 million per season for Williams with incremental 10.5 percent raises. A full five-year extension would be worth about $90 million. Jazz owner Larry H. Miller previously has stated he considers Williams to be a max-money player.

"We really do think the best is yet to come for the team and Deron," McClaren said. "It should be fun for the next several years."