Utah Jazz: Rest of the roster — NBA subs, D-League stars

The Jazz typically don't like to carry a full 15-man roster, in part because general manager Kevin O'Connor prefers to keep one spot open for flexibility purposes.

Should multiple key cogs go down, it makes it that much easier to bring in a replacement from the outside.

This season, though, is different.

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said he intends to stick for now with all 15 who brought guaranteed contracts to training camp, largely because he likes what he has on his bench behind not only his starters but also his five-man second unit.

"We could always do something if we had to. Try to," Sloan said. "But I'm not looking to trade anybody. I'll keep every one of them."

Carrying three points has always been Sloan's preference, which explains why Brevin Knight is on hand to battle Ronnie Price for the backup job.

Kosta Koufos, Kyrylo Fesenko and Morris Almond all are prospects to be developed — either as Jazz reserves or with their NBA Development League affiliate in Orem, the Utah Flash.

It remains to be seen if any of those three will play double-digit NBA games this season, as Almond and Fesenko failed to do as rookies last season.

Sloan, though, hopes they can contribute, because in time he is bound to call on at least some from them.

BREVIN KNIGHT
POINT GUARD
5-10, 166
32 years old
Prior NBA experience: 11 years. Other NBA teams: Cleveland, Atlanta, Memphis, Phoenix, Washington, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Los Angeles Clippers. From: Stanford. Acquired: Trade.

UPSIDE: Knight, acquired in the offseason from the Los Angeles Clippers in a straight-up swap for fellow journeyman point Jason Hart, brings veteran savvy in addition to quickness. He is New Jersey-native wise and Stanford-educated smart. He has averaged more than a steal-and-a-half throughout his career. He seems to have arrived with a good attitude, willing to work with fellow reserve point Ronnie Price rather than threaten him. And he hasn't played for many winners — only nine playoff games in 11 seasons — so he is motivated to make a winning team that much better.