Utah Jazz notebook: Guard Othyus Jeffers signed for remainder of season

SALT LAKE CITY — From one former D-Leaguer to another, Sundiata Gaines teasingly warned Othyus Jeffers that he has some surprises coming his way on the Utah Jazz's upcoming road trip.

Honestly, Jeffers might not care.

The 6-foot-5 shooting guard, who joined the team earlier this month as a replacement for traded-away Ronnie Brewer, is just elated to be heading out of town with the Jazz.

The fact he's traveling with the team to Toronto Tuesday is significant. It means he'll remain with the NBA club he rooted against as a Chicago Bulls fan as a kid.

After Utah's 110-97 win over Boston, Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor announced that the franchise will sign Jeffers to a contract for the remainder of the season.

Jeffers, whose second 10-day contract expired Monday, was taken by surprise when reporters mentioned that to him in the locker room.

"I'm very happy," he said with a huge smile, adding that it was news to him. "I guess I did enough to please them and get me to stay. I'll see where I go from here."

For now, he'll happily go wherever the Jazz do.

"We like his attitude," O'Connor said. "We like how he works."

Though he hasn't had much game or practice time to showcase his skills, Jeffers said he's tried to heed the advice of coaches and fellow teammates.

The Jazz have an option on Jeffers for next season as well, though it's not known how much, if any, of his salary beyond this season is guaranteed.

"We don't know," O'Connor said, "if he's good enough so we want him to prove to us that he can play. He's proven to us what kind of guy he is. He's proven to us he'll work. Now the next thing is, 'Prove to us how you can play.'"

Jeffers, a former Iowa Energy player who brought averages of 3.2 points and 1.3 rebounds into Monday's contest, said he's excited to be with the team for the postseason push.

"That's what I'm ready to feel, some Jazz playoff(s)," he said. "I used to watch it a lot on TV, now it's time to feel it first-hand."

"I'm happy for him," Gaines added. "He worked hard and he deserved it."

Ex-Utah big man Mikki Moore, who underwent heel surgery in December, remains a possibility should the Jazz decide to sign a veteran to their 14th roster spot.