Report: Utah Jazz ‘expected’ to sign Stanton Kidd to a deal

For the second straight year, the Utah Jazz are looking to sign a Summer League standout. Last year was Eric Griffin, this year: Stanton Kidd.

If you saw the Jazz play in the Utah Jazz Summer League, and are currently watching them play in the Las Vegas Summer League, then you’ve probably already gotten a look at Stanton Kidd, who was a late addition to the summer league squad.

According to Sportando, it looks like Kidd is going to ink a contract with the Jazz.

Kidd, a 26-year-old from Colorado State, is averaging 12.3 points and 3.5 rebounds for the Jazz in summer league. It’s a small sample size, but Kidd is also shooting the ball very well. He’s hitting at a 57 percent clip, including 50 percent from downtown.

He’s also got length that helps him defensively. He’s been solid on both sides of the ball during Summer League thus far.

After waiving Jonas Jerebko, the Jazz have an open roster spot. Many people, including myself, expect that spot to go to Georges Niang. Niang is familiar with the Jazz system, and has showed the world what he can do in recent weeks.

So, where does that leave Kidd? Well, a two-way contract would seem likely. That would give Kidd up to 45 days with the Jazz in the regular season, spending the rest of the time with Utah’s G-League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars.

Last year, Eric Griffin really impressed in Summer League, and earned a two-way deal with the Jazz. However, that deal wasn’t exactly successful, as Griffin didn’t play a single game with the Jazz, and was waived early in the season.

What’s impressed me about Kidd is his size and shooting ability. Also, he moves well without the ball and finds a way to get himself open. He’s 6-foot-7, and looks like he can play multiple positions on the floor.

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This may not be the flashiest signing in the world, but the Jazz have a history of finding diamonds in the rough — just look at Joe Ingles and Royce O’Neale.

Kidd is still young, and going to one of the better franchises in the basketball world would only benefit his development as a player. Dennis Lindsey has quite an eye for talent, and I think all of Jazz Nation trusts him in making the right moves for the team.

In my opinion, Kidd would be a great first two-way signing. That would give the Jazz one more two-way spot, which they can use on another young player. Kidd would be just the second new face on this Jazz team, along with first-round pick Grayson Allen.