After several days of reports and speculation, the Utah Jazz finally made official the signing of Dahntay Jones. Though terms of the deal were not announced by the team, it’s a reasonable assumption that Jones will have to fight with several other players for a roster spot, and his chances of making the squad are probably low. That said, Jones is a player with the potential to be much more than just a training camp player for the Jazz.
Over the course of the last decade, during which he played for six different teams, Jones has been a hard-nosed player and a solid contributor on the wings. In 2009, he started 71 games for a Denver Nuggets team that reached the Western Conference Finals. The following season with the Indiana Pacers was his most productive, as he put up 10 points per contest in 25 minutes per game.
Again, it will be an uphill battle for Jones throughout training camp. The Jazz already acquired Carrick Felix from the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this summer. Felix is a younger player with a body type similar to that of Jones. More importantly, his contract is guaranteed for the upcoming season and Utah generally doesn’t pay players to not suit up for the club. They’ve also been hesitant to use all 15 of their roster spots in years past, making it unlikely that they would keep both players.
Still, if Jones were able to defy the odds and be with the team to start the season, he’s a high-character guy with a scrappy game who could provide veteran leadership for a young Jazz team. It’s a long shot, but you can’t count a player like Jones out.
Ryan Aston covers the Utah Jazz for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @MrMaryKateOlsen or add him to your network on Google.
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