Utah Jazz waive Jonas Jerebko, who is reportedly bound for Golden State
Utah Jazz's Jonas Jerebko (8) reacts after scoring a 3-point shot in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, March 13, 2018, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Kim Raff)
Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder, left, confers with forward Jonas Jerebko, of Sweden, during a break in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Utah Jazz opened a roster spot Saturday morning by announcing the team had waived forward Jonas Jerebko.
Jerebko, an eight-year veteran, signed a two-year contract with Utah ahead of the 2017-18 season, but the second year was not guaranteed. The Jazz made the move before the second year, at about $4.2 million, became guaranteed next week.
Jerebko is eyeing an agreement with the defending champion Golden State Warriors if he clears waivers, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
During one season with Utah, the 6-foot-10 veteran from Sweden appeared in 74 games (19 starts) and averaged 5.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per contest, shooting 41.4 percent from the 3-point line. He previously played in Detroit and Boston before signing with the Jazz.
A team could claim Jerebko off waivers if it wanted to pay him the $4.2 million. Otherwise, he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Wojnarowski reports he’s likely to sign a veteran minimum deal with the Warriors, which at his tenure would be just north of $2 million per season.
The move gives the Jazz some cushion before reaching the luxury tax. The team may use the roster spot on someone like Georges Niang, a 6-foot-8 forward who started 41 games for the G League’s Salt Lake City Stars last year and is on the Jazz’s summer league roster.
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