NBA Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz: Carrick Felix’s Injury Opens Door For Other Guards

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By @mrmarykateolsen

Carrick Felix Utah Jazz Training Camp Injury Dahntay Jones

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The first day of training camp practice is in the books for the Utah Jazz, and the team has already suffered a major injury. Carrick Felix, the 6-foot-6 shooting guard acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason, suffered a shoulder injury during the morning practice session and will miss extended time.

For Felix, it’s a huge setback as the swingman battles to lock up one of the team’s final roster spots, but for some of the other wingers in camp, an opportunity to stick with the team for a while longer has been created.

Potential beneficiaries of the void left by Felix’s injury include journeyman wing Dahntay Jones, combo guard Toure’ Murry and returning Jazzman Kevin Murphy. There had been talk that the team liked Felix’s potential as a defender in the NBA, likening him to former San Antonio Spurs defender Bruce Bowen in terms of a role he could play should he develop.

The Jazz may still give him the chance to try and morph into that kind of player for them, but in the meantime, a door has been opened for Jones, Murphy and Murry.

X-rays taken shortly after the injury revealed that Felix had a grade-one AC joint sprain and is expected to be out of action for at least four weeks, which will cause him to miss valuable floor time as the team tries to install new concepts both offensively and defensively. It seemed unlikely that Jones and Murphy in particular would be able to win the numbers game on the wing, but now the team may have no choice but to keep one of the guards.

For my money, Jones is the best option. He’s a veteran player with over a decade of experience in the league and a hard-nosed defender, somebody the Jazz could rely on to mentor the other players on Utah’s young roster as they try to improve on their horrendous league-worst defense of a year ago.

The injury comes at a bad time for Felix, but Snyder and Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey probably remain intrigued by his potential, and he could still play a role for the team this season. Until that time, the competition for the team’s few open roster spots just got more interesting.

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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