RealGM Basketball Wiretap

21 November 2024

• Jazz Waive Jason Preston

  The Utah Jazz waived Jason Preston on Wednesday, sources told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

  Preston, who was on a two-way contract, will make way for David Jones.

  Preston appeared in seven games for the Jazz last season.

• David Jones, Jazz Sign Two-Way Contract

  The Utah Jazz have agreed to sign David Jones to a Two-Way contract. Jones was on a Two-Way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers until September and was most recently on the Mexico City Capitanes of the G League.

  In four G League games this season, Jones is averaging 21.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.2 blocks in 29.0 minutes.

  Jones went undrafted in 2024 out of Memphis.

• Jazz Granted $2.9M Disabled Player Exception For Taylor Hendricks

  The NBA has granted the Utah Jazz a Disabled Player Exception for Taylor Hendricks. The exception is worth $2,924,340, which is half of Hendricks' salary for the 2024-25 season.

  Hendricks was injured in a game on October 28. While trying to stop his momentum, Hendricks slipped and fractured his right fibula and dislocated his ankle. The second-year forward is expected to miss the remainder of the season. The NBA granting the Jazz the DPE means that they believe he's more likely than not to miss the remainder of this season.

  Utah will have until March 10 to sign, trade for or claim off waivers one player whose deal fits inside of the exception amount. The one key difference from a Traded Player Exception is that the player must be on an expiring contract, with no options if traded for or claimed off waivers. If signed, the player can only sign a rest-of-season contract.

• Taylor Hendricks Undergoes Successful Leg, Ankle Surgery

  Taylor Hendricks underwent successful surgery to repair a fractured right fibula and dislocated ankle on Wednesday.

  Hendricks suffered the season-ending injury on October 28.

  Hendricks had started three games for the Jazz this season, averaging 4.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in 25.0 minutes per game.

• Lauri Markkanen Misses Spurs Game With Back Spasms

  Lauri Markkanen sat out the Utah Jazz's 106-88 loss to the San Antonio Spurs due to lower back spasms.

  Markkanen was also limited to 17 minutes on Tuesday night due to the injury.

  Kyle Filipowski, who started in place of Markkanen, finished the game with 12 points and 5 rebounds.

• Warriors Never Offered Brandin Podziemski To Jazz For Lauri Markkanen

  The Golden State Warriors and Utah Jazz held multiple trade discussions on Lauri Markkanen, but sources tell ESPN's Tim MacMahon that the offers never included Brandin Podziemski and were limited on future draft capital. The Jazz were seeking both Podziemski and future firsts to consider trading Markkanen.

  The Jazz were reportedly preferential to Podziemski over Jonathan Kuminga if they were to trade Markkanen to the Warriors. Kuminga was extension eligible this past offseason and will be a restricted free agent in 2025. Podziemski is not extension eligible until 2026.

  Markkanen and the Jazz agreed to a five-year, $238 million deal in August, which makes him ineligible to be traded this season.

• Taylor Hendricks Suffers Fractured Fibula, Dislocated Ankle; Expected To Miss Rest Of Season

  Taylor Hendricks suffered a fractured right fibula and dislocated ankle on Monday night against the Dallas Mavericks.

  Hendricks, who will have further testing in Utah, is expected to miss the rest of the season.

  Hendricks was injured without any contact in the third quarter.

  "He's put in a lot of hard work. He's a great kid, and so we're really just trying to focus on him, his health, keeping him up, his spirits up as he begins the road of his recovery. But these are the moments in sports that suck," said Will Hardy.

• Lakers Have Interest In Walker Kessler

  The Los Angeles Lakers have gotten off to a 3-0 start under new head coach JJ Redick. But that better-than-expected start doesn't mean the Lakers aren't still looking at ways to upgrade the roster.

  One player Los Angeles has interest in is center Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz. The Lakers are looking for frontcourt depth around Anthony Davis. Jaxson Hayes has been the team's primary backup big, as Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood are recovering from injuries to open the season.

  Kessler would fill the backup center spot. He would also allow the Lakers to open games with a bigger lineup, should Redick choose to go that direction. In addition, Kessler makes just $2.9 million this season and $4.9 million next season in the final year of his rookie scale deal. That type of salary is easily acquirable for Los Angeles, who is working against some tight margins with the tax aprons.

• Lauri Markkanen Declined Spot In Netflix Show 'Starting 5'

  Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen was offered a spot in Netflix's "Starting 5" show. Ultimately, Markkanen thought the show would be too much going at once during the season.

  "I didn't want to bring extra people into the locker room," the Jazz star said. "Yes, it's fine when it's going great and you're having people film you in your car after a game. But what if things go sideways? I just know my personality and it would have been too much. I just wanted to focus on playing basketball and being with our team with no other people around. And then, we're pretty private with our family life as well, so didn't want to bring them into it."

  "Starting 5" followed the day-to-day lives of LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler, Anthony Edwards and Domantas Sabonis. The series took viewers behind the scenes into the players' lives on and off the court.

• Jazz Exercise 25-26 Options On Keynote George, Taylor Hendricks, Brice Sensabaugh, Walker Kessler

  The Utah Jazz have exercised the third-year rookie scale options on guard Keyonte George, forward Taylor Hendricks, and guard/forward Brice Sensabaugh. The team also exercised the fourth-year rookie scale option on center Walker Kessler.

  George (6-4, 199, Baylor) is entering his second NBA season and in 2023-24, averaged 13.0 points, 4.4 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in 75 games (44 starts).

  Hendricks (6-9, 227, UCF) appeared in 40 games (23 starts) last season, owning averages of 7.3 points on 45.0 percent from the field and 4.6 boards in 21.4 minutes per contest.

  Sensabaugh (6-6, 240, Ohio State) enters his second season after appearing in 32 games (11 starts) in 2023-24 with Utah. He averaged 7.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 18.3 minutes per game. In his last eight games of last season (four starts) he posted averages of 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 24.9 minutes per game.

  Kessler (7-1, 271, Auburn) is entering his third NBA season, having appeared in 138 games (62 starts), with averages of 8.7 points on 69.0 percent from the field, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in 23.2 minutes per game.