The Utah Jazz made an end-of-the-roster move late on Monday night to bolster the Salt Lake City Stars roster, their G-League affiliate. The team signed Jason Preston to a two-way contract, the No. 33 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft.
It's a two-year deal that ties Preston to the Jazz through the 2024-25 season. To make room for Preston, the Jazz waived two-way guard Josh Christopher, the former first-round pick, who was having a fine season for the Stars.
Preston is a 6-foot-3, 181-pound point guard from Ohio University who spent the first two years of his professional career with the Los Angeles Clippers. The 24-year-old was waived this past offseason after injuries and a deep roster limited his on-court time. He appeared in just 14 games with the Clippers and recorded averages of 2.9 points, 1.9 assists, and 1.6 rebounds on 43.9% shooting.
Preston has been playing for the G-League’s Memphis Hustle so far this season and boasts averages of 12.4 points, 8.6 assists, 7.8 rebounds, and only 2.4 turnovers per game (something the Jazz have struggled with throughout their roster). He's also shooting an impressive 48.1% from the floor despite knocking down less than 30% of his shots from deep.
The move to add Preston could indicate that the Jazz are looking for a more traditional point guard to help run the team. With the recent success the Jazz have had by inserting Kris Dunn into the starting lineup, Preston could provide a similar impact with the Stars, who have started their regular season 1-4.
Jason has been one of the premier set-up men in the G-League this season, ranking top 10 in assists per game in both the Showcase and regular season portions of the schedule this year.
Preston won’t blow you away with his speed or athleticism, but his pace and understanding of how to run an offense will be beneficial to the Stars. With rookies Taylor Hendricks and Brice Sensabaugh spending significant time in the G-League, the Jazz need to foster an environment that's good for their development.
The team has shown a willingness to send its draft picks down for development under head coach Will Hardy, and with an abundance of future draft picks on their way, the Jazz are prioritizing each avenue of their developmental system.
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