Ridiculous Upside: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Network Alert: Texas Tech Fires Coach Mike Leach

Utah Jazz Point Guard Options Talented? Or Limited? Well, Old, Anyway.

More photos » by Matt Slocum - AP

Eric Maynor is gone. Who will replace him? I'm guessing one of these guys.

Well, I briefly ran through this last week, but I've decided to delve into in a little more detail, just in case there are any other teams looking through the point guard crop.  I've got to assume that if the Utah Jazz go the D-League route, it's going to be Utah Flash point guard Dontell Jefferson, but we'll delve into a few others just in case they try getting fancy.  If they go with a veteran, there are options out there as well, but I'm not sure any of them are amazing.  The whole "They have NBA experience" thing does nothing for me, for future reference.

According to Jazz GM Kevin O'Connor, Utah could "go young and ... and give [somebody] a look and see if they can get better and become part of the future [or] bring somebody in who's been in the league awhile that would better protect us if somebody gets hurt."  At their meeting to talk about this, O'Connor and Sloan went over a preliminary list of "10 or 12" point guards the Jazz will consider.

With that in mind, I went through and picked out ten point guards that could, potentially, make sense in Utah.  I know that's a lot, but it's Sunday afternoon and I'm bored.  Plus, the Jazz front office does things I wouldn't do, so I tried looking in places that I normally wouldn't, such as old re-treads that probably still remember the system, but probably also will be in line for knee replacement surgery in the next few years.

I put them in order of last name, but if you're looking for me to handicap a favorite, here's to you, Dontell Jefferson.

Star-divide

Andre Barrett (Currently unsigned) - Barrett has played for six NBA teams in four seasons and I'd venture to guess the reason why he bounces around so much is because he's 5'9" and lacks range on his jump shot, because he's pretty solid every where else.  I know, that seems like a big problem, but as a third point guard, he could come in and be reliable.  I actually thought he might have a chance to make the Cleveland Cavaliers roster this preseason, but ultimately he was beat out by Coby Karl as emergency point guard, mostly due to the fact that Karl has a jumper and size.  I also have to discount Barrett because he hasn't played anywhere this season since being cut by the Cavs, but after his abysmal season in Spain last year, maybe he's actually helping himself.

Antonio Daniels (Currently unsigned) - Daniels requested a buyout from the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier this season because he wasn't satisfied being the third point guard behind two young players.  I'm not sure if he'd be willing to be the back-up to one very talented young player (Deron Williams), but it's worth a shot, from both sides.  The 34 year-old Daniels has played in 867 NBA games, including 220 starts, so he's obviously got some talent - mostly on the defensive end.

Dontell Jefferson (Utah Flash,19.6 ppg, 5.9 apg, 4.7 rpg, 1.2 spg) - Jefferson, who topped the first edition of the Randy Livingston Memorial "On The Edge" Call-Up Rankings, is a pass-first point guard who played part of last season in the NBA after being called-up by the Charlotte Bobcats. He also plays for the Utah Flash, is coached by former Jazz scout Brad Jones, and runs the Jazz system (what that is worth, I'm unsure).

Brevin Knight (Currently unsigned) - Knight played 74 games with the Jazz last season, so that means something. I don't follow the Jazz closely (who does), but I can't find anywhere that says the Jazz were upset with how he played or that Knight wasn't happy with his role, so this isn't all that far out of the realm of possibility. You get what you see with Knight, which is an old point guard who played in this role last season and can sort of run an offense, but can't really play on offense (no offense to your offense, Brevin Knight).

Shaun Livingston (Currently unsigned) -  You know Livingston's story.  You probably saw the injury that looked like a career-ender, but he was able to come back from it.  After getting a call-up last season from the OKC Thunder, it seemed like he was on his way back to a full-time NBA gig,  but the Eric Maynor trade cancelled those plans.  See the Thunder had to cut two players and Livingston ended up being one of them.  I've got to assume that if the Jazz really wanted Livingston, he could've been included in the trade, but he wasn't.  Regardless, they could do worse than a 6'7" point guard with great court vision.

Keith McLeod (Albuquerque Thunderbirds, 19.9 ppg, 6.1 apg, 1.8 TOPG, 2.0 spg) -  Jazz fans will remember Keith as the point guard to take over for Carlos Arroyo for the majority of 2004-2006.  He wasn't terrible in most aspects, but shot worse than 36% both seasons, so, actually, maybe he was terrible.  McLeod has spent the past two seasons in the D-League and, as you'd expect, he hasn't really improved his shot.  He is a good leader though and Sloan has trusted him before to run the ship, so I'm including him here.

Mustafa Shakur (Tulsa 66ers, 18.8 ppg, 6.6 apg, 4.2 rpg, 51% FG, 2.8 spg) - I don't love Shakur, but his play this season merits a mention.  It really seems like he's beginning to get it.  He was with the Timberwolves this preseason, and the Lakers over the Summer, so he's obviously on NBA radars, he just hasn't been able to catch on.  By shooting 51% as a point guard and leading a dysfunctional 66er team (they just seem dysfunctional, don't ask me why), he's trying to get a look during the regular season as well.  While the Jazz probably aren't the team for him, he's a solid prospect to keep an eye on. He's not related to Tupac Shakur.

Curtis Stinson (Iowa Energy, 16.4 ppg, 9.4 apg, 5.8 rpg, 49% FG, 13% 3pt, 2.2 spg) - Stinson is good at getting in amongst the trees and dishing it out for the open 3-pointer.  He's definitely a much better creator than he is at scoring the ball, so his 16 points per game is a bit misleading.  His 9+ assists, however, aren't.  Defensively, he isn't terrible, but don't expect him to shut a guy down.  I don't think he's an NBA prospect, but it's mostly due to his lack of a consistent jumper.  He knows this as well, and the 13% from beyond the arc doesn't seem to show me that he's working to improve that.

Jacque Vaughn (Currently unsigned) - Vaughn could probably step right into this role, as he spent 224 games mastering the art of the Jazz back-up point guard spot from his rookie year in 1997 until 2001, when he was signed as a free agent by the Atlanta Hawks.  Vaughn is 34 and has spent the last few seasons backing up Tony Parker in San Antonio.  The fact that he's been able to maintain a career in the NBA without ever entering a season as a starter probably means something, but I don't know if that something should impress anyone.

Mike Wilks (Currently unsigned) - Wilks is the other player that had to be released when the Thunder traded for Eric Maynor. Honestly, I think he can play in this league. Wilks is what I'd consider an organic D-Leaguer in that he used his time in the D-League to become an NBA roster fixture, rather than being assigned to the league. Wilks parlayed 9.6 points on 42% shooting and 3.9 assists over 60 D-League games from 2001-2003 into an NBA job, so he must an excellent leader. Wilks was forced to miss last season after a devastating knee injury in Orlando and after playing in just four games with the Thunder this year, he should still be fairly fresh. As an aside, his agent is Bill Neff, friend of Ridiculous Upside.

Poll
Who should the Jazz replace Eric Maynor with?

  168 votes | Results

0 recs  |  Comment 9 comments  |  Add comment |

Story-email Email Printer Print

More from Ridiculous Upside

An Important Message + Utah Flash 112, Idaho 109 (OT BayBee!)

Dec 2009 by Scott Schroeder - 6 comments

Last Night in the D-League, Where Greg Stiemsma Happened

Dec 2009 by Scott Schroeder - 16 comments

Last Night In The D-League, Lots of Games Happened

Dec 2009 by Scott Schroeder - 7 comments

Around SB Nation

Loud Links: 12/29/2009

Dec 2009 from Welcome to Loud City - 3 comments

BREAKING NEWS: The Thunder Acquire Matt Harpring and Eric Maynor from the Jazz for Free

Dec 2009 from Welcome to Loud City - 23 comments

Game 25 Recap: Oklahoma City 109, Detroit 98

Dec 2009 from Welcome to Loud City - 0 comments

Comments

Display:

If Livingston gets signed, I’ll cut myself with the corner of a Lionel Richie album. Dontell or Mustafa.

by TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsMichaelBourn on Dec 27, 2025 11:58 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I used to like Mustafa

But ever since I was trying to find the youtube of the hyenas on Lion King saying his name, then hearing them say Mufasa instead, has kind of turned me off on the kid..

by Scott Schroeder on Dec 28, 2025 12:06 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Totally understandable

by TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsMichaelBourn on Dec 28, 2025 12:51 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Good

I thought with my failure of typing in English, you might not have understood what I was telling you. Essentially, Mufasa does not equal Mustafa.

by Scott Schroeder on Dec 28, 2025 4:55 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I saw Livingston play long time ago… and he was really good.

Don’t know much about Dontell coz he don’t tell. His stats are very flashy but he does play for Flash.

If he was to rename himself to Donatello, I say we sign him immediately.

by iLoveBooks100per on Dec 28, 2025 11:04 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

A name change to Donatello would earn him a quick call-up. That’s the thing with point guards in the D-League, I think. If they’re not named after something kids liked in the early to mid 90’s, they lose a bit of luster.

by Scott Schroeder on Dec 28, 2025 1:35 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I think they should sign Jefferson,

but I wouldn’t be surprised if they went with Vaughn, Knight, or Daniels instead.

by benhertz on Dec 28, 2025 1:56 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I'm guessing that's the consensus

They probably should sign Jefferson, but will probably go with somebody Sloan is more familiar with.

by Scott Schroeder on Dec 28, 2025 2:00 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I don't think Dontell acquitted himself all that well last night...

…and if Kevin OC was truly in attendance and was looking to be sold, I am not sure Dontell got it done.

That being said, to my mind he was a step above everyone last night in terms of someone that could come in and contribute on both ends of the floor in the NBA. He has always been a steady performer for the Flash and frankly has improved a ton. He has never been a head case either. He should be judged on his body of work, not last nights “ugly-athon” with the Stamps.

by Rumble on Dec 29, 2025 1:37 PM EST reply actions   0 recs


User Tools

Welcome to Ridiculous Upside, your first stop for NBA prospect info! RU - Where Potential Is Way Cooler Than Reality!
Start posting on Ridiculous Upside »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Potatohead_small
Santa Stampede comes four days too late!
Small
Bakersfield Jam
Small
Futurecast
Potatohead_small
Open letter to Flash owner Brandt Andersen
Small
What's Wrong With Futurecast?
B-king_front_small
Erie, Bakersfield Waive More Players*
Sp_baron_edited_small
Talent vs Temperment
Small
Erie's 1st cuts
Potatohead_small
How'z it goin? 2008-09 Ex-Idaho Stampede
Small
Best Draft Overall

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

SBNation.com Recent Stories

link

Pacers Take Losing Streak Full Circle Against Grizzlies, Fall 121-110

link

Orlando Scores 76 Points In Second Half, Rolls Over Milwaukee 117-92

Happy Birthday, LeBron: Cavs Down Hawks, 106-101

More from SBNation.com >


Real Deal Holyfield's

Ru_small Scott Schroeder

B-king_front_small Jon L

Duke_henderson2008_01_small Aisander D

Small James Dalton Swayze