The Jazz and point guard Bryce Cotton are making progress as they discuss a deal that would cover the rest of the season, reports Shams Charania of RealGM (Twitter link). Cotton’s second 10-day contract with Utah expired overnight, so any new deal between the sides would have to cover at least the balance of 2014/15.
Cotton saw only 12 total minutes of playing time for an improved Jazz team during his pair of 10-day stints, and he didn’t go on D-League assignment for any additional burn. Still, the first-year pro saw no shortage of playing time for the better part of the season when he was on a D-League contract with the affiliate of the Spurs. The undrafted 22-year-old out of Providence averaged 22.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists against 2.5 turnovers in 40.3 minutes per game for the Austin Spurs. Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey came from the San Antonio organization, so it was no surprise to see him pick up a player who’d spent time not only with the Austin Spurs but with San Antonio’s NBA club during the preseason and the summer league.
The Jazz have the luxury of two open roster spots after their 10-day deals with Cotton and Jerrelle Benimon expired Sunday night, though the team is reportedly set to sign Jack Cooley, a one-time 10-day signee from earlier this season, to another 10-day contract. It would make sense if the primary subject that Utah and Cotton are haggling about is the existence of another year or two on his deal and whether the extra seasons would involve any guaranteed salary, though that’s just my speculation.