Utah Jazz: Trio of players trimmed from roster

Jerry Sloan is no Donald Trump, that's for sure.

And it's not just their hairstyles that differentiate the two.

Though The Donald seems to cherish pink-slip situations, Sloan made it clear on Wednesday that he gets no thrill or satisfaction out of letting people go.

"I don't like this day," Sloan said. "That's why I came early to try to get it over with. There's no easy way."

Sloan said that with a lump in his throat and only a short while after personally informing second-round pick Goran Suton, former Utah State standout Spencer Nelson and NBA-seasoned Alexander Johnson that they had been waived by the Jazz.

"It's the same story every year — you hate to cut players," Sloan said. "You hate to cut guys who worked hard, and these guys worked hard in camp. ..... Those guys did a good job."

Sloan will have to repeat that process at least one more time before next week. The Jazz currently have 16 players on their roster and must trim that down to 15 before Monday's NBA-mandated deadline.

The most likely scenario is that at least two players will be cut before the regular season begins because Jazz brass have been adamant that they only want to carry up to 14 guys this year, leaving room for an emergency addition.

The injury situation with the wing players — with Matt Harpring (ankle, knee) perhaps being finished, C.J. Miles (thumb surgery) rehabbing for at least another month, and Kyle Korver (knee) being sidelined for now — is forcing the organization to give some new guys an extra-long look.

Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor says the organization is working on finalizing its roster.

"We're still having conversations about it," O'Connor said Wednesday.

Judging preseason playing time and production, rookie swingman Wesley Matthews of Marquette seems to have the best shot at making the final roster. Ronald Dupree, a former NBA and Utah Flash small forward, has also seen playing time during the exhibition and is in the mix, too. Rookie guard Paul Harris from Syracuse looks to be the longest shot, seeing as he's yet to play due to an ankle injury.

All three have non-guaranteed contracts.

With an immediate need for wing depth, Utah has been impressed by what the 6-5 Matthews and the 6-7 Dupree have done so far.

"I think they've both shown an ability to defend," O'Connor said. "... They both have competed really well, and I think that's the thing you want to look for."

Both players are committed to continuing to show they can contribute, too.