Trey Lyles To Make NBA Debut In Jazz Summer League
Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Trey Lyles (41) dunks the ball in front of Wisconsin Badgers guard Zak Showalter (3) during the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men
After much speculation and a contract signing delay, the Utah Jazz’s No. 12 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Trey Lyles, will finally make his debut in a note uniform in front of the public on Thursday, July 9, in the Utah Jazz Summer League series in Salt Lake City.
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Moments before Utah Jazz president Randy Rigby joined the show live, Spencer Checketts and Gordon Monson of 1280/97.5 The Zone’s Big Show were able to confirm that Trey Lyles will indeed play on Thursday evening in EnergySolutions Arena. Rigby said that Lyles would “play a few minutes of each half,” making it sound like the former Kentucky Wildcat small forward might start.
As of earlier today, Lyles was “unlikely for Thursday in Utah, but almost certain for next week in Las Vegas Summer League” play, so nice treat for a tenacious and raucous Utah Jazz crowd that’s been 10,000 strong in summer league play’s return to the 801, especially with Dante Exum still probably sitting after a late Day 1 ankle sprain.
"Our own Spencer Wixom compiled the most in-depth analysis of Lyles’ background available on the internet. Be sure to check that out before the Jazz rookie takes the court."
Trey Lyles and agent Rich Paul — who also manages LeBron James, Eric Bledsoe and Tristan Thompson, among others — and Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey were unable to come to a contract agreement for some two weeks, leaving Lyles’ status for the Utah festivities in doubt.
"Lindsey and company wanted to keep Lyles’ salary cap hold as low as possible, preserving an extra $375,000 in space, as the team explored possible free agent signings and trades.“Just administratively we need, for lack of better description, cap float time to be able to have all the conversations that we need to have,” Lindsey said last week. “Therefore, you can’t sign the contract because as soon as you sign it … we’ve reduced our cap flexibility.”Without a deal, Lyles’ agent, Rich Paul, kept his client out of the team’s practices, sparking some additional speculation about the rookie’s absence.“I thought it was pretty funny,” Lyles said. “The media puts a lot of stuff out there. That’s their job. But it’s all good. I’m here now and that’s all that matters.”“I’ll be out there if they want me to,” he said. “I’m a competitor. I want to play.”–Aaron Falk, Salt Lake Tribune"
The Utah crowd cheered loudly on Tuesday evening when Trey Lyles was shown sitting behind the Jazz bench. Rigby said that playing time “would be up to coaching staff” and largely predicated on physical condition. Utah Jazz assistant Alex Jensen has been the main man with the plan for head coach Quin Snyder during Utah’s summer league play.
Jensen has often gone with a small ball lineup thus far, often opting for three guards with Rodney Hood at power forward and either Jack Cooley or Brock Motum at center
The Utah Jazz are 2-0 thus far and looking to sweep play with a 7 p.m. Mountain Time date with the Philadelphia 76ers on tap to wrap up Utah’s triumphant return to summer play.