The Jazz won’t pick up the fourth-year option for Udoka Azubuike or the third-year option for Leandro Bolmaro, tweets Tony Jones of The Athletic. Both players will become unrestricted free agents next July.
Azuibuike would have earned $3,923,484 during the 2023/24 season and Bolmaro would have received $2,588,400. The deadline for rookie scale option decisions is Monday, and those are the only two that Utah faces.
Azubuike, a 23-year-old center, was selected by the Jazz with the 27th pick in the 2020 draft. He has dealt with injuries during his brief NBA career and has played a total of 33 games, including one this season. The former Kansas standout is averaging 3.0 points and 2.6 rebounds in 7.9 minutes per game.
Bolmaro, a 22-year-old swingman, was acquired from the Timberwolves this summer in the Rudy Gobert trade. He appeared in 35 games for Minnesota last season and two so far with Utah, averaging 1.4 points and 1.2 rebounds in 6.9 minutes per night. He was the 23rd pick in 2020, but didn’t come to the NBA until 2021.
We’ll thats interesting. And the cut Jared Butler.
Keep in mind, they have 3 first round picks in this year’s draft. If they plan to use and keep all 3 then they’ll need to decline the options or cut 3 players.
Or they could have just made trades and taken back expiring deals
What difference would that make?
With 3 1st rounders coming in this year and many more to follow, there’ll be way too many mouths to feed.
I was high on Bolmaro during draft process. And was kinda pissed when Knicks selected him and traded to Minnesota. Thats why draft is so fun i guess
Jazz picked up a win without Mike Connelly last night, which is interesting in that Connelly has played well to begin the season.
I had thought Connelly’s play was an important part of the Jazz early success this season, still believe that, but the win over the Grizzlies (without Morant) last night speaks to how well the team is constructed.
I think they probably look to trade Connelly later this season. They could be a suitor for the Lakers, they’d have to include Beasley or Clarkson, Rudy Gay, and the Lakers would have to take on Nickiel-Walker.
That’s a Westbrook trade. But the Jazz are probably interested in his expiring contract, Connelly would be a good fit with LeBron.
Are you purposefully spelling his name wrong?
It was the second half of a back to back. Conley has normally gotten rest days for a couple years now
Best move Jazz can make is to take on Westbrook. Then they can buy him out. And play the young guys. And just get ready for next yrs draft. Even if they miss out on top pick. Top 3-5 is still a future all star imo.
Also Westbrook on the open market. Is good for the NBA. He can help a team get deeper and better. Plus he will be pumped to show the L he still got plenty of gm. He will have plenty teams who want him.
Right now, the Lakers need to keep Westbrook and wait and see what happens. He was improved coming off the bench for the Lakers.
Brooklyn is an example of a team that could implode, and then decide to blow it up. That Westbrook contract is an expiring deal that could net the Lakers multiple players in return.
Chicago is another example of a fire sale candidate. DeMar DeRozan finally home to the Lakers?? He is better than any free agent they can get with their cap space next year.
Kyrie has also moved himself into the Westbrook trade discussion. If Lakers are desperate enough to take him, and Brooklyn decides to dump him. There is a fit here.
Durant???? Probably not enough assets for Lakers.
Westbrook gives Lakers great potential options.
No one is helping Lakers. And this is Brons last yr at high level. Jazz have the players to help them. And it would take both their #1 picks. Westbrook will never agree to come off bench. And he really shouldn’t on that team. He’s coming back from injury so he’ll do it till he’s right.
Jazz are going nowhere. It’s absurd to keep, Rudy, Conley. Makes no sense for Jazz. They should start the rebuild today.
Udoka is an NBA center. He absolutely can play in this L. Probably needs to get a little leaner. As a rim protector and rebounder alone. He can help a team. It’s unfortunate that bigs today. Don’t get the attention they need to develop. A true Center will never go away. Even if it’s 20 mins a gm. It’s something every team needs. You can’t teach size …….. Someone will offer him a contract. Rockets should be monitoring this.
The move that confused me was releasing Jared Butler.
Both Guys can still sign with Utah just for not more than the QO. Both would not get the QO on the open market anyway. Danny knows what he is doing.
If the Jazz can’t play Bolmaro, nobody will.