Utah Jazz swap backup point guards

The Jazz traded one reserve point guard for another Wednesday, returning journeyman Jason Hart to the Los Angeles Clippers and acquiring veteran Brevin Knight in a swap of former Charlotte Bobcat teammates.

Knight, a New Jersey native who went on to become Stanford's all-time assists leader, was drafted 16th overall in 1997 by Cleveland and has played 655 regular-season games for eight NBA teams over 11 years.

He also starred at Seton Hall Prep School, winning a Jersey state title there.

"He can run a team," said Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor, who has long held interest in Knight. "That's something we've always appreciated from him. And he's a guy that protects the basketball pretty good."

O'Connor had no comment when asked how the acquisition might impact the Jazz's feelings about matching an offer sheet that restricted free agent swingman C.J. Miles signed last week with Oklahoma City — a decision expected to be revealed Friday.

Hart played at Syracuse and has logged 297 games for Milwaukee, San Antonio, Charlotte, Sacramento, the Clippers and the Jazz.

Utah signed him to a two-year, roughly $4.8 million deal last offseason, but he wound up losing his backup job at the point to Utah Valley product Ronnie Price and appearing in just 57 games with an average of 2.9 points, 1.5 assists and 10.6 minutes for the Jazz.

"Jason struggled at the beginning (of the season)," O'Connor said, "and tried awfully hard — probably too hard at times."

Hart's numbers marked a precipitous drop from his short stint in Los Angeles, where at the end of the 2006-07 season he averaged 9.0 points, 4.0 assists and 32.4 starting-role minutes over 23 games for his hometown Clippers.

"He (Hart) is ecstatic," agent Bill Neff said. "Because it didn't work out (in Utah). Not because of anything they did. It just didn't. ... Jason just didn't play well there. But he has no complaints about the Jazz."

After the season, Hart's camp suggested to the Jazz that it would be amenable to a trade.

So when Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy approached Neff recently at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas to ask how Hart would feel about returning to L.A., the answer was obvious.

"It's home," Neff said, "and it's going back to a coach (Mike Dunleavy) he's had success with."

In Los Angeles, 30-year-old Hart will back up newly acquired point Baron Davis.

In Utah, Knight— who turns 33 in November — will battle in training camp with Price for reserve-role minutes behind Team USA member Deron Williams.

The swap saves the Jazz nearly $900,000 in salary, as Knight is scheduled to make $1.6 million next season in the second year of a two-year, $3.2 million deal, and Hart will earn $2,484,000 in the final year of his contract.

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