Jazz guard McLeod trying to earn spot

ST. GEORGE — He is not one of the chosen 12, that dandy dozen whose season salary — in the seven-figures range, for most — is fully guaranteed. Nor is he one of the unlikely four, that quirky quartet of free-agent hopefuls whose chance at sticking with the Jazz falls on the far side between slim and absolutely none.

Instead, 24-year-old Keith McLeod arrived at training camp this week with a partially guaranteed contract — a vow offering some degree of monetary certainty, but no promise whatsoever, franchise officials say, that a roster spot will be his.

Total value of the one-year pact is $750,000, but that will be paid only if McLeod lasts all season. The deal's guaranteed portion is worth $250,000, and that will be paid whether he plays this season or not.

Money matters aside, the reality of McLeod's October world is this: The undrafted Bowling Green University product came to camp with a leg up on the competition for what amounts to Utah's third point guard position, which came open when the Jazz declined to match Milwaukee's three-year offer sheet on former No. 3 Mo Williams.

McLeod, though, won't know if he can stand on both feet until convincing Jazz brass he should be part of the picture when the regular season rolls around in November.

That is an ongoing process, and powers-that-be will permit no premature roster-spot assurances to be made.

"I don't really make a judgment on that yet at this point," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said when asked Thursday if McLeod will assume Williams' vacated position, "because we don't have to make judgment on who's here, or who we have to cut.

"I don't even give it any thought," Sloan added. "I just try to get the players comfortable with what they're doing, and we'll hopefully pick the best players for our team when it comes time."

That said, McLeod has been opening Jazz eyes since auditioning during the offseason.

A few others worked out as well, including ex-Michigan State national title-team point Mateen Cleaves.

Consideration also was given to bringing multiple non-guaranteed points to camp, including Weber State product Jermaine Boyette, who had a strong showing for the Jazz last fall but did not do enough to impress during Rocky Mountain Revue play this past July.

What McLeod did, though, obviously separated him. And that was this: "I just basically gave it all I had," he said.