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As per what we reported last night (with confirmation from his agency), the Utah Jazz have signed / called up D-League shooting guard Elijah Millsap. Here is what the Jazz have to say:
Jazz Sign @elijah_millsap to a 10-Day Contract. Welcome to the Jazz Elijah! Details: http://t.co/AgnbyXXI47 pic.twitter.com/N1woS71wCa
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 5, 2015
SALT LAKE CITY (January 5, 2015) - The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed guard/forward Elijah Millsap of the NBA Development League's Bakersfield Jam to a 10-day contract. Millsap becomes the NBA's 12th overall NBA D-League Call-Up of the 2014-15 season and the 10th different player to be called up. Per team policy, financial terms were not released. Following the move, the Jazz roster now stands at 15 players.
The 27-year-old Millsap (6-6, 215, Alabama-Birmingham) appeared in 19 games (16 starts) for the Jam this season, averaging 20.6 points (12th in the D-League), 8.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.1 steals (fifth in the D-League) in 36.6 minutes per contest. 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.
Millsap attended 2014 training camp with the Milwaukee Bucks, appearing in one preseason game before being waived on Oct. 16. He has also attended NBA training camps with the Los Angeles Lakers (2011) and Oklahoma City Thunder (2010).
Millsap has spent portions of five seasons in the NBA D-League with the Jam (2014-15), D-Fenders (2011-14) and Tulsa 66ers (2010-11), appearing in 155 career D-League games (130 starts) and owning averages of 17.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.7 steals in 32.3 minutes while earning 2012 D-League All-Star and All-NBA D-League Second Team honors, as well as being named 2013 NBA D-League All-Defensive Third Team and 2011 NBA D-League All-Rookie Second Team. He has also played professionally with Maccabi Ashdod of the Israeli League (2013-14), the Petron Blaze Boosters of the Philippine Basketball Association (2013) and Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association (2012-13).
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). He earned All-Conference USA First Team honors following his junior season at UAB and was named the 2007 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year as a member of the Ragin' Cajuns. He was not selected in the 2010 NBA Draft.
Millsap becomes the 13th D-League Call-Up in Jazz history, and the second this season (Patrick Christopher).
He will wear uniform #13 for the Jazz.
Yeah, this is important because our squad needs some shooting guards right now with THREE of them being injured all at the same time. It's funny that they cut a guy who is a SG/PG in order to do it, but we already love baby Millsap.
One thing that is striking to me is that Elijah is a dog out there on defense, he's active and physical. He causes turn overs. Turn overs lead to fast breaks. Fast breaks lead to a faster pace of play. I think this has the chance to work out; however, let's not forget that not all NBA-DL guys get to play even after they've been called up. Yes, Sundiata Gaines did, and Othyus Jeffers kinda did. But Travis Leslie and Jerel McNeal did not. We'll see.
But for now, I am happy we have SOMEONE, a warm body to put out there.