Utah Jazz Re-Sign Earl Watson

by Basketball John on Dec 9, 2011 2:55 PM MST in Utah Jazz - Trades & Transactions

Jazz fans rejoice. Earl Watson will return to the Jazz according to Brian T. Smith after he and his agent were in Salt Lake today negotiating a deal. It will be a two-year guaranteed deal. Watson has always expressed his interest in returning to the Jazz. He'll serve once again as the primary backup behind Devin Harris.

He quickly became a fan favorite in his first season in Utah as he led the SWARM (second unit) which had a lot of success early in the season. His "Early-oops," as they became to be known, to Jeremy Evans added to his popularity. His stats were down from his career averages but fans have shown that hard workers and those loyal to the franchise will always have a place here.

With the Jazz signing Jamaal Tinsley yesterday, it looked like it might be the end of Watson's time here in Utah. They've also brought in Scottie Reynolds (PG) to training camp and also announced that former Jazz man Keith McLeod would be invited to camp. They're not carrying four point guards so those latter two will be playing to impress and to get a position elsewhere.

Congrats to Watson. Let's get back to basketball now.

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Comments

Yay!

Welcome back Watson.

"Everyone wants to throw dirty on us"

by dunkface on Dec 9, 2011 2:56 PM MST reply actions

That is great news! Sorry to lose price but I guess it had to happen.

by Osswan on Dec 9, 2011 2:59 PM MST reply actions

thats 13 right?

not bad……..

excited to see how we do. Jon Rinehart just tweeted out that both rookies have signed and will practice this evening.

Love the Jazz, Utes, and BoSox.

bigbenstechnicalfoul.blogspot.com

by BigBenSportsGuy on Dec 9, 2011 3:07 PM MST reply actions

Wondering if they bring in a wing player still.

SLCDunk.com, The Utah Jazz on SBNation

by Basketball John on Dec 9, 2011 3:09 PM MST up reply actions

raja is all the wing we need

About me: I used to run AllThatJazzBasketball.Blogspot.com - now you may know me as the Sunday Syncopation guy or the GO Rating guy.You can reach me via e-mail ( allthatjazzbasketball@hotmail.com ) or on teh twitters. Really, I'm not lonely or anything . . .
2010-2011 Season Statistical Reviews (games): 10, 22, 30, 40, 51, 60a 60b, 70a 70b, 82
2010-2011 Season Review (part): 1, 2, 3, 4a 4b, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

by AllThatJazzBasketball on Dec 9, 2011 3:32 PM MST up reply actions

Is this tongue-in-cheek?

Baseball is the only place in life where a sacrifice is really appreciated.
"Shoot baskets, not people." -AK

by DWest on Dec 9, 2011 4:18 PM MST up reply actions

maybe

but it should be raja’s butt-on-bench

by AllThatJazzBasketball on Dec 9, 2011 8:31 PM MST up reply actions

Great News!

Great news. I am very happy the Jazz are not involved in all the nonsense going on around the league right now.

by utahmariner on Dec 9, 2011 3:10 PM MST reply actions

wow fantastic news

I love Watson. He’s the kind of player that actually looks to get the team involved and actually plays some defense.

by utahspazz on Dec 9, 2011 3:11 PM MST reply actions

I'm still hoping for AK and Fez, but things are looking dim.

by Fesenko for President on Dec 9, 2011 4:08 PM MST reply actions

Glad we got Watson back--he was the only good option out there for the Jazz.

by Fesenko for President on Dec 9, 2011 4:11 PM MST reply actions

I wonder if the Jazz might leave a spot or two open to gamble on signing one of the "China" players later in the season.

by Fesenko for President on Dec 9, 2011 4:13 PM MST reply actions

Yes!

Baseball is the only place in life where a sacrifice is really appreciated.
"Shoot baskets, not people." -AK

by DWest on Dec 9, 2011 4:18 PM MST reply actions

Great move, especially given Harris' injury proneness

Although I will say, Jazz fans got a little stalkerish towards poor Earl…lol

by Stockton2Malone on Dec 9, 2011 4:27 PM MST reply actions

what do you mean?

Louisiana Jazz fan

by TBKIII on Dec 9, 2011 6:46 PM MST up reply actions

Question

With the Rockets going into the Paul trade looking for a big man to replace Yao Ming, should the Jazz test those waters with Big Al?

by king.nothing on Dec 9, 2011 5:38 PM MST reply actions

Yes

But they won’t.

I got the crap beat out of me in Provo one time

by Yucca Man on Dec 9, 2011 7:09 PM MST up reply actions

The Earl-e-yoop is back!

If everything goes well I just started a six month Earlgasm.

by Jazzed in Vegas on Dec 10, 2011 2:07 AM MST reply actions

I'm certainly glad the Jazz went hard after Watson and secured him as a backup point guard--he was certainly the Jazz's best option.

However, I’m extremely curious about and disappointed that the Jazz are not going hard after AK. If the Jazz are really about winning and not rebuilding, as Kevin O’Connor claims, AK is critical to a smooth transition from the old to the new. He certainly knows the system, he has been the Jazz’s best defensive player for years, he is by far the best wing player out there in free agency, he actually wants to play for the Jazz, and he would not be demanding big minutes, which would give the young guys a chance to develop. If the Jazz need salary space to re-sign him, they have the option of either buying out or waiving Bell as an amnesty player. AK is much more important to the team than Bell. Yet, the Jazz seem very lackadaisacal about re-signing AK.

Also, Fesenko has been the Jazz’s best defensive big man for the past two seasons (despite his man/child personality), yet the Jazz also don’t seem to have any interest in re-signing him.

Without either one of those players on the Jazz this year, it would appear that the Jazz defense (which hasn’t been that great for several years) will be significantly worse.

by Fesenko for President on Dec 10, 2011 8:15 AM MST reply actions

I think we all love and appreciate AK..

He’s been my favorite Jazzman for the past few years. However resigning free agents is a two way process. From all the posts and news it appears to me that AK prefers being in Russia right now where he is a super star and team leader. It seems to me like he’ll only come over here is if someone offers him a big payday; probably in the 8-9m range min I’m assuming.

And as much as it pains me to say this I think last year was probably one of AK’s worst years I’ve ever seen. Not sure if he was playing mostly hurt as he has been battling injuries for a while but last year he just wasn’t very “AK-like” letting guys blow by him and not blocking shots that he had no problems blocking all the years before.

I don’t know if its a physical thing or mental because I see all these reports about how he is dominating and leading his team in Russia/European play after having such a bad year. I personally think its a combination of both. He’s probably just tired of the same old thing with the Jazz aiming to be slightly above average every year. Knowing it was his last year with a huge payday he probably already mentally checked out last year.

The Jazz might just see Jeremy Evans as a replacement for AK which is why I think they’ve kind of just let AK go. Jeremy has shown to be very athletic and whenever I see him block shots with his skinny and long frame I’m reminded of AK. Just need to get more food in that boy to cushion his buttocks after blocking guys that are stronger than him.

I’ll follow AK whatever he does I’m still a fan – I’m just kind of “meh” whether or not he plays for the Jazz right now, I think it’s time to move on with the young guys.

by utahspazz on Dec 10, 2011 10:39 AM MST up reply actions

Clarification

The Jazz are about rebuilding, not winning. But they still need to put butts in the chairs in the ESA this season. You will be hearing a mixed message, but make no mistake: The Jazz are 100% in rebuilding mode.

by chamont on Dec 10, 2011 9:45 PM MST up reply actions