The ledger
Rebuild and the Deron years (2003–2011)2008–09 Utah Jazz
The 35th season of the franchise and the 30th since the move from New Orleans was dominated by two things: injuries and a death.
14 in, 1 out. Every move the record shows for this season, with the reason where a source gives one. Where no reason is documented, the entry says nothing rather than guess.
In
14 ARRIVED2008 NBA draft first round pick (#23 overall)
- Utah drafted him 23rd overall in 2008 but rarely used him. In July 2010 he and two first-round picks went to Minnesota for Al Jefferson, the replacement for Carlos Boozer. Kevin O'Connor said the Jazz simply had too many big men.
- Represented Greece internationally despite being born and raised in Ohio.
- Background: QUOTE from GM Kevin O'Connor on why Koufos became expendable: "We felt we had too many at that position now" — and the deal also brought a little luxury tax relief. The Deseret News described him as a 'seldom-used big man' who had become surplus despite recent progress. source
- ARRIVAL: selected by Utah 23rd in the 2008 draft. source
2008 NBA draft second round pick (#44 overall)
Ante Tomic never played a minute for the club
2008 NBA draft second round pick (#53 overall)
Tadija Dragicevic never played a minute for the club
team tendered qualifying offer, making player a restricted free agent
team exercised contract option through 2008-09
signed first round pick to a 2-year, $2.3M contract with a 2-year, $3.5M team option
- ARRIVAL: selected by Utah 23rd in the 2008 draft. source
re-signed to a 3-year contract extension with a 1-year player option
trade with Clippers
- The Clippers traded him to Utah for Jason Hart on July 23, 2008, after Hart lost the backup job behind Deron Williams. Knight gave the club one season. His contract expired and Utah kept Ronnie Price and drafted Eric Maynor instead.
- At 5 ft 10 he was among the shortest players of his era.
- Background: WHY: Jason Hart had failed in Utah — 57 games, 2.9 points and 1.5 assists per game, and he had lost the backup guard role behind Deron Williams to Ronnie Price. GM Kevin O'Connor: 'Jason struggled at the beginning (of the season), and tried awfully hard - probably too hard at times.' Hart's agent, Bill Neff, says the player wanted to return to Los Angeles to play for Mike Dunleavy. source
- THE ARRIVAL: 23 July 2008, traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to Utah for Jason Hart — a one-for-one swap of backup point guards. source
- the club gave up: Jason Hart
re-signed restricted free agent to a 4-year $15M contract (matched Sonics offer sheet)
signed free agent
Britton Johnsen never played a minute for the club
signed free agent
Gerry McNamara never played a minute for the club
signed free agent
Kevin Lyde never played a minute for the club
signed free agent
Gabe Muoneke never played a minute for the club
team exercised contract option through 2009-10
Out
1 LEFTlost restricted free agent (declined to match Wizards offer sheet)