Utah Jazz: More cuts; Brewer bothered by back; Korver gets second opinion

The Utah Jazz had a lot more elbow room at practice this morning than they've had all fall.

A day after cutting three players, Jazz brass waived NBA hopefuls Ronald Dupree and Paul Harris. Those cuts bring Utah's current roster to 14 players.

Also missing from Thursday's practice were Jazz veterans Ronnie Brewer (back spasms) and Kyle Korver (inflamed left knee).

The Jazz were unsure where Brewer was when practice started at 10 a.m. But the starting shooting guard called during the team's workout to inform them that his back had locked up on him and that he was unable to drive himself to the Zions Bank Basketball Center, according to general manager Kevin O'Connor.

Because of his ailing back, Brewer will not travel with the team for the Jazz's final preseason game Friday night in Sacramento.

Korver, meanwhile, is not with the team right now. He is traveling to get a second opinion on his inflamed left knee, which has hampered him throughout the preseason and forced him to miss all but one exhibition game.

O'Connor also said the Jazz are still unsure whether or not they will retain rookie swingman Wesley Matthews for the regular season. That decision, O'Connor said, depends on Utah's injury situation. Matthews is now the only player on the team who does not have a guaranteed contract, though that would become guaranteed after Jan. 10 if the Jazz keep him.

Dupree seemed to have an outside shot at making the team coming in, considering the 6-7 LSU product is deemed to be a tough defensive player and has 154 games of NBA experience with four teams. The former Utah Flash forward played in all seven preseason games so far, and averaged 3.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in just under 12 minutes.

Harris was a victim of bad luck. He sprained his ankle during the week leading up to fall camp, and the Syracuse standout guard didn't heal in time to see any preseason action.

On Tuesday, the Jazz waived second-round pick Goran Suton, Utah State's Spencer Nelson and former NBA forward Alexander Johnson.

Because Matt Harpring remains in Atlanta to see how his ankle and knee responds to rest before deciding his Jazz future, Utah only had 11 players at Thursday's practice.

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