Did the Utah Jazz just add a long term piece on a 10-day contract?
There has been much discussion of the Utah Jazz adding a defensive minded wing to their rotation. Most observers have expected them to do so via either the trade or buyout market.
It appears possible that a simpler solution was readily available. The Jazz just signed veteran forward Danuel House Jr. to a 10-day contract.
Did the Utah Jazz find a permanent rotation member?
Granted, House Jr may not satisfy all of Utah’s desires. His performance on the defensive end has been generally inconsistent throughout his career. All told, he sports a Defensive Box Plus/Minus (DBPM) of -0.4.
That’s far from ane lite mark, but it’s a passable one. Moreover, House Jr. shoots 36.1% from three-point range throughout his career. His floor spacing will fit nicely in Quin Snyder’s system.
He’ll have to provide value as a defender to extend this contract beyond 10 days. In 2019-20, House Jr. posted a DBPM of 0.0 as a member of the Houston Rockets. If he can hit that mark over the duration of this contract, he might get an extended look in Salt Lake City.
He’ll also need to avoid bringing off-court issues to Quin Snyder’s pristine table.
Utah Jazz giving Danuel House Jr. a second chance
Utah Jazz fans may recall the 2019-20 “bubble” somewhat fondly. Sure, they lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round, but they were expected to. Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell emerged as a bonafide franchise player for the Jazzmen.
Houston Rockets fans don’t recall those times with much enthusiasm. Danuel House Jr. is a major reason why not.
House Jr. was suspended for violating the league’s health and safety rules by entertaining (*ahem*) company in the bubble. From that moment onward, the native Houstonian had found himself on the outs on his hometown team.
In all likelihood, the talented wing wouldn’t be on a 10-day contract otherwise.
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Time will tell whether this 10-day contract results in a longer term arrangement, but for the Utah Jazz, it feels like a gamble worth taking.