Devin Brown Utah-bound

He was the undrafted hometown boy who set records for the high school and college and eventually made it to the local NBA team's roster, but despite showing promise, Devin Brown was locked into one of the most loaded positions on a championship team.

San Antonio has all-star Manu Ginobili to start at shooting guard, and veterans Brent Barry and Bruce Bowen played there as well during the Spurs' 2005 NBA-championship run.

There wasn't much room for Brown, and then last week, the Spurs signed prized free agent shooting guard Michael Finley from Dallas.

Finally, Friday, the Spurs let Brown go to a more promising situation with Utah by remaining silent past the deadline to match the Jazz offer sheet that was signed by the three-year pro Sept. 1 and delivered to the Spurs Sept. 2.

The Jazz were thin at shooting guard after losing Raja Bell to free agency (Phoenix) and trading Kirk Snyder to New Orleans this summer. Gordan Giricek and rookie C.J. Miles are the only remaining true twos they have.

"We were optimistic that they would not match in light of their having signed Finley," said Jazz president Dennis Haslam after announcing that Brown is officially theirs — pending a physical and other formalities, such as signing a contract, Wednesday.

Brown is busy in San Antonio this weekend aiding victims of Hurricane Katrina, including hosting his own Devin Brown Hurricane Relief drive today.

So he won't be in Utah — he was born in Ogden in 1978 — for several days yet.

"We're really excited about bringing him in, and I think he's going to be able to be a contributor for us," Haslam said.

"I think he might have been an underplayed player in San Antonio," Haslam added, noting those who played in front of him. "We're hopeful that he'll be able to blossom with us and be very successful."

"The Utah fans had better hold onto their seats," declared Brown's agent, Darrick Powell, whose job it is to make him attractive. "This kid has done some remarkable things, and things that the fans have not had an opportunity to see."

Powell said San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich "is one of those guys that's going to play his guys and is loyal to his guys. Given the opportunity to play consistent minutes every night, the kid can play," Powell said.

"I think the situation will be different in Utah. He will probably get more consistent minutes, and with those consistent minutes, and playing with Kirilenko and Deron Williams and those guys—yeah, people better hold onto their seats."

In 2004-05, a season shortened by a herniated disk that Powell said is completely healed, Brown averaged a career-best 7.4 points as well as 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He is a career 42 percent shooter.