Many players who spent 2012/13 with the Jazz are clients of agent Mark Bartelstein, as Jody Genessy of the Deseret News points out (Twitter link). Mo Williams, Gordon Hayward, DeMarre Carroll, Jeremy Evans and Earl Watson are all Bartelstein clients, and four of those five are either free agents or eligible for a contract extension this summer. Bartelstein spoke with Genessy, revealing much about the critical summer ahead for Utah. We've got the highlights here, along with other news on the Jazz:
- Bartelstein is disputing a report last night that indicated Williams would not return to the Jazz unless he retains his starting position, Genessy reports (Twitter links). "That is 100% not the case," Bartelstein said. "We would never make a demand of the Jazz or any team."
- Bartelstein says to Genessy that Williams will keep an open mind in free agency, with the Jazz among the teams he'll consider. "Mo's proven to be a starting caliber point guard in the league," the agent said. "(But) nothing is given to anyone. You earn your minutes" (Twitter links).
- Whether or not Williams will take a back seat to Trey Burke, fellow Jazz free agent point guard Jamaal Tinsley wouldn't mind re-signing with Utah to mentor the rookie point man, a source tells Bill Oram of The Salt Lake Tribune (Twitter links).
- Watson, who played through multiple injuries last season, envisions signing with an NBA team again, while Carroll "would love to come back" to the Jazz, Bartelstein tells Genessy (Twitter links).
- As expected, the team will discuss rookie-scale extensions for Hayward and Derrick Favors later in the summer, after most free agents have signed, Genessy tweets.
- It sounds unlikely that 47th overall pick Raul Neto will be on the Jazz roster this season, Oram tweets.