McNamara shoots for opportunity

Gerry McNamara was a man in a hurry, six years ago as a freshman at Syracuse. Another player who was the team's projected point guard got suspended, and that was all McNamara needed.

"I never gave the job back," he said. "It's all about opportunity."

He went on to start for Syracuse's national championship team in 2003.

Unfortunately for McNamara, there's opportunity and then there's opportunity. The first is a genuine possibility of something happening. The second is what he has now, which is a snowball's chance in Yuma. You just hope it leads to something better.

McNamara arrived early for the Jazz's preseason media day on Monday, hoping to beat the odds and make the regular-season roster. He was undrafted in 2006. His only NBA experience is summer league appearances with Orlando and Philadelphia. Otherwise, he's spent his post-college career in the developmental league and in Europe.

The best thing about McNamara is when he gets hot, games change. The man, as they say, can rain. He set Big East records for 3-pointers and foul shooting.

Trouble is, this year's training camp roster is a lot like the guest list at a Garbo party. It's easier to get in the Living Presidents Club. A team can carry 15 players and that's exactly what the Jazz have under contract. The only way McNamara can make the team is if someone gets hurt, released or lost.

This, of course, isn't what coach Jerry Sloan would say. He intends to take the best players, not just those under contract. But considering the situation, and the Jazz's salary cap restrictions, it's unlikely either McNamara or free agents Gabe Muoneke or Kevin Lyde will make the team.

"This roster," McNamara said, "is pretty packed."

So packed, in fact, that local favorite Britton Johnsen skipped camp at the last minute to take an offer in Ukraine.

McNamara must outdo either Ronnie Price or Brevin Knight to become the team's third point guard.

"I'm just coming in here with a positive attitude and trying to play as hard as I can," McNamara said. "Whatever happens, I can't control."

The Scranton, Pa., native might've picked a better year to try out with Utah. His journey looks like the travels of Jason and the Argonauts — one ferocious obstacle after another. It appeared during the summer that the Jazz might have some space when swingman C.J. Miles signed an offer sheet with Oklahoma City. But the Jazz matched the offer, locking him up for four years. They added veteran point guard Knight in an off-season trade and signed draft choice Kosta Koufos.

Meanwhile, Price's productive play earned him a two-year contract in 2007.