Utah Jazz looking for point guard to fill roster vacancy

Utah Jazz brass met Saturday to begin the process of filling the roster spot that opened up when the organization traded rookie point guard Eric Maynor and injured Matt Harpring's contracts to Oklahoma City last week.

Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said the team has compiled a list of 10-12 players who will be evaluated.

O'Connor wanted to meet with coach Jerry Sloan and other pertinent Jazz personnel to gather input and discuss options as the team tries to find a player who will fit in for at least the rest of the season.

The process, O'Connor admitted, could take a while to play itself out. The 12-deep Jazz have two weeks from the trade date (last Tuesday) to get their roster up to the required league minimum of 13.

"We're going to study some tapes and make some phone calls about availability of guys," O'Connor said, "and determine what direction we're going to go in."

Because Utah has depth with wing and post players, O'Connor confirmed the Jazz are looking for a third point guard.

The team is trying to decide whether it's best to bring a younger, project-type player or if it'd be wiser to sign a veteran who could be used as more immediately as insurance in case of an injury to Deron Williams or Ronnie Price. It's possible the Jazz could mine Europe for a player such as former Utah Flash guard Kevin Kruger, who's in Italy.

But because many pros across the seas have tricky contracts to get out of — or might want the Jazz to guarantee a deal — O'Connor suggested it'd be smoother sailing for Utah to stay closer to home, presumably either with someone in the D-League or an out-of-work NBA player.

"We would look probably (at) somebody that's free to be able to come sooner than somebody in Europe," O'Connor said.

O'Connor's phone has been ringing "a lot" with tips — from the likes of agents — about Jazz wannabes. That, of course, is to be expected when an NBA team puts out a help wanted sign.

"That's their job," O'Connor said, "and that's what they're supposed to be doing. ... If they didn't make those calls, I'd start to worry."

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