The Utah Jazz Sign Othyus Jeffers To A Ten-day Contract
by Basketball John on Mar 3, 2010 6:29 PM MST
18 comments
Othyus Jeffers is moving on up
I'll get that name spelled right eventually. Though by the time I do, he may be gone. Can we just call him OJ?
From the official release,
Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team will sign guard Othyus Jeffers (pronounced oh-THEE-us) of the NBA Development League’s Iowa Energy to a 10-day contract, pending the outcome of a successful physical. Jeffers becomes the 18th D-League Call-Up to the NBA this season, and second by the Jazz (Sundiata Gaines). Following the transaction, the Jazz roster now stands at 13 players.
So he's a 6' 5", 210 G/F that went to school at Robert Morris - Chicago and has played the last couple of seasons in the D-League for the Energy. Lots out there on him, but there's an exceptional piece from RU last season. Here's a snippet,
Jeffers grew up in a rough neighborhood and had already had two of his brothers murdered by the time he graduated from high school. This, as it would anyone, seemed to affect his schoolwork, leading to Jeffers needing to go the JuCo route out of high school, settling with Los Angeles' Southwest Community College. There, he averaged 22.3 points and 10.7 rebounds, leading to him getting scholarship offers from Big 10 and Big 12. Ultimately, he decided he wanted to be closer to his family back in Chicago, though, leading to him choosing to go to the University of Illinois, Chicago campus.
So what kind of player did we get? Also from RU,
The things that'll get him to stick with an NBA team, though, is his defense. Although he doesn't block many shots, his on-ball defense is exceptional. He gets in a guys grill and doesn't swipe at the ball, but stays on him close enough that eventually the player just passes the ball rather than dealing with Jeffers pesky-ness. He's quick enough that the offense can't get around him, and he's strong enough that nobody's going to be able to go through him.
His offense, on the other hand, needs a bit of work, but not much. Off the dribble, he's exceptional, as no one can defend his first step and he's able to finish at the rim - he's very deliberate. Shooting though, is ocassionally a bit of a problem. It's not that he has a bad shot, it looks pretty, but it doesn't fall as much as you'd think it should when watching it leave his hands. He's been a power forward much of his career though, so I'm assuming his jump shot will improve with more time spent, as it seems the mechanics are there.
Sounds familiar.
He's got some solid stats this season: 51% shooting, almost 7 rebounds a game, and a little over 14 points a game.
Unfortunately for him, he's likely just a stopgap until the Jazz can figure out who they really want. Not saying he couldn't make it, but given that he's another wing...
His current number is 6 which just happens to be open with the Jazz right now. I hope he has the blessing of LeBron James. Maybe he'll catch on for the rest of the season and hit a game winner over the King in the finals?
We're not going to see much of this kid play, but at the least, hopefully he gets some PT to impress some other teams and gets signed. Maybe he'll even be in training camp with the Jazz next season.
At least we'd have a new entrant for the rookie dance off
Othyus Jeffers balla "I gotta feeling" durante il riscaldamento (via wh0iswalter)
Looks like Matt got this up before I could finish my post.
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No Hat Tip? jk
He sounds to me like a very good defensive player. I think his past made some teams hesitant. I hope he can work out and show some good hard work and hustle…we all know that will get you playing time over sheer talent.
"Its going to be a challenge, its going to feel like forever, and there will be difficulties. But we will emerge on the other side of it stronger than we were when we entered." ~ Sudden
yeah, I've got it at the end
I checked before I started the post and then didn’t get it up until later.
by Basketball John on Mar 3, 2010 7:07 PM MST up reply actions
Well
Do you think this guy is roster fodder or a legitimate rotational player?
"Its going to be a challenge, its going to feel like forever, and there will be difficulties. But we will emerge on the other side of it stronger than we were when we entered." ~ Sudden
by Matt_Grbac on Mar 4, 2010 8:41 AM MST via mobile up reply actions
I could see him getting some burn on Sat against the Clipps
Maybe they throw him in for a few minutes to see how he performs, then evaluate from there.
by prodigal punk on Mar 4, 2010 8:51 AM MST up reply actions
He seems to have a lot of Brewer's qualities...
Gets to the rim with ease. Plays great defense. Gets steals. He is an outstanding rebounder for his height.
"Its going to be a challenge, its going to feel like forever, and there will be difficulties. But we will emerge on the other side of it stronger than we were when we entered." ~ Sudden
Missing Brewer already?
I thought the Jazz had too many wing players. Secondly, I thought the Jazz needed a wing player who could shoot. Don’t tell me the Jazz are already regretting the decision to release Brewer.
I hate to break it to ya
I think they miss him. We just signed a player that can’t hit a jump shot. finishes at the rim well, plays defense and goes after the glass. Hmm. Stupid FO
To think they could have had BBJ!!!
SLC Dunk #1 Jazz Site in the world!
by RRR on Mar 3, 2010 7:48 PM MST up reply actions
This one may actually work better...
SLC Dunk #1 Jazz Site in the world!
by RRR on Mar 4, 2010 8:08 PM MST up reply actions
Nah
Somebody WANTED Brewer. I don’t think anyone wants CJ. Wesley has more upside, is way cheaper, and they won’t lose him next year to (restricted) FA. And he’s 80% as good right now.
I think picking up this guy from the D league is the equivalent of taking a flyer on a 2nd round pick. Maybe he’ll do great, or maybe he’ll last exactly 240 hours with the Jazz. No big risk either way.
Ronnie Brewer
was let go because we got a pick for him. Matthews made him expendible and there was no way we could resign Brewer.
If anything this pick up is probably so the Jazz have someone on roster for 10 days. Unless he ends up being amazing, i doubt he gets signed for hte rest of the season. I bet the Jazz will go grab someone else and this was just a waiting move. It has nothing to do with missing Brewer.
For the Love of the Game
Aren't you curious what the number was that the Jazz wouldn't match?
Given the current economic climate of the league and a possible impending lockout, Brewer’s contract number could be a lot less than what the Jazz were thinking. I know I’ll think the front office has egg on its face if Brewer ends up resigning for something like $4 million/year. That’s a bargain for a starting quality wing in the NBA. That assumes, of course, that Brewer bounces back to form and doesn’t continue regressing.
Considering
What their payroll already is, the idea that the Jazz probably want to either resign Boozer or do a sign and trade, and Korver being a free agent. They probably decided they were wanting to go a different direction than throwing a little more money at keeping Brewer. Don’t get me wrong, I love Ronnie B. Signing Miles and Milsap to a larger contract, keeping Okur, Not being able to move Boozer, and the addition of a stud rookie in Matthews. Brewer became the odd man out. It was him or Korver. I guess I believe that the Jazz want to try and resign Korver. If I had to choose between KK and Brewer. I probably would pick Korver because he brings a pure shooter which we lack. Even more so if Matthews turns into a Greek God like we all hope he does :).
I really wanted to try and swing a trade of Korver/picks to the Bulls for Tyrus Thomas. Unfortuantly Brewer had to go. Now that the smoke has settled I think KOC actually got a pretty good deal with a First round pick, assuming they wouldn’t have been able to keep Brewer.
However, this Jefferies kid, if he plays defense as well as everyone says. Maybe he makes Brewer even more expendible. We only have to pay him a significantly less contract than Brewer.
All this being said. I think if Jefferies doesn’t turn out to be the answer the Jazz won’t hesitate to jump on a left over Vet or a Big man. Just my two cents.
For the Love of the Game
Memphis wanted Brew bad
That’s why they started out offering the Lakers pick (most likely the last pick), then offered the Denver pick (maybe a few spots earlier), then finally offered theirs up. Gay becomes a FA at the end of the year and is going to command a lot more money (whether he deserves it or not). Being that Brew and Gay are essentially clones on the court, Brew was insurance in case they didn’t have the chops to sign Gay.
As far as the pick goes, yes Memphis seems to be much improved this year, but they could just as easily nosedive next year, making that 1st rounder a good pick up for the future.
by prodigal punk on Mar 4, 2010 7:51 AM MST up reply actions
yaaawwnnnn
most boring jazz news of the year. doubt he’ll contribute this year. and i don’t think this is a waiting move to sign some veteran (they’re pinching every penny). unless he totally bombs i expect him to be warming the 13th seat for the rest of the year.
If he's like Brewer,
he gets all his ppg at the rim, and the only reason his percentage isn’t 100% is because he takes (and misses) jumpers. Does anybody think that the league leaders in FG% are good shooters? No, they’re all dunkers.
I'll make it coach.
by MTN on Mar 4, 2010 8:18 AM MST up reply actions
It's too bad
there aren’t more stats to look at for the dleague. It would be interesting to see what his hotspot chart looks like..
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