Utah Jazz add training camp competition by signing Isaac Haas

The Utah Jazz recently signed Purdue product Isaac Haas, who likely won’t suit up for the team, but will be a welcome addition in training camp and on the Salt Lake City Stars.

Barring a completely unforeseen adjustment, the 2018-19 Utah Jazz 15-man roster is set. Newly drafted Grayson Allen has essentially taken the place of recently waived David Stockton while Georges Niang has replaced Jonas Jerebko. Other than that, the exact same team the Jazz rolled out last year will remain intact.

However, the Jazz are still busy adding talent to gear up for training camp and the start of preseason. Some of this has to do with continuing to keep tabs on guys that the Jazz like while it also has to do with adding some much-needed competition to the table before the regular season commences. The more solid guys they can bring in, the more effective their practices leading up to the start of the 2018-19 campaign will be.

Such an act is exactly what occurred on Thursday when the Utah Jazz signed Purdue product Isaac Haas. Haas had some nice moments in the Summer League for the Jazz, putting up totals of 15 points, 19 rebounds, four steals and three blocks in his four appearances. At seven-foot-two, 290 pounds, his daunting size alone makes him a formidable matchup for those tasked with opposing him.

While Haas certainly has some NBA potential, though, it’s pretty much a guarantee that he won’t be playing for an NBA team this upcoming season as he lacks much of the necessary polish and skill. The Salt Lake Tribune’s Andy Larsen went as far as to report that his signing by the Jazz will ultimately be to waive him, then assign him to the Salt Lake City Stars.

Ideally, he’ll prove to be a solid competitor in Utah Jazz training camp that challenges the likes of Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors and Ekpe Udoh. From there, the hope will be that he can thrive in the G-League while remaining where Jazz brass can keep a close eye on him and eventually blossom into an NBA-caliber talent.

Haas faces an uphill battle to do that, but as a college standout that averaged 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 23.4 minutes per game during his senior season at Purdue, he absolutely should not be overlooked.

The Jazz have had a knack in recent years for discovering and developing diamonds in the rough. Although the team has already allocated its pair of two-way contracts to Naz Mitrou-Long and Tyler Cavanaugh, putting Isaac Haas even further out of a shot at an NBA opportunity, he’s certainly someone Jazz fans should keep their eyes on during the coming season.

And perhaps G-League stardom is in his immediate future, then there’s no telling just how high he could ascend from there.