THE Utah Jazz are a part of the groups firmly dedicated to the tanking race for the 2025 NBA draft the place the highest three gamers needs to be Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper. When a crew is mired in a rebuild just like the Jazz, discovering high quality gamers on the perimeter and creating prospects is crucial. The NBA’s two-way contracts are excellent for this, and the Jazz used an open roster spot so as to add a G League outstanding this week.
The Jazz signed Elijah Harkless of the San Diego Clippers to a two-way contract, fill a spot on the open listing this comes from waiving David Jones, in keeping with Tony Jones of The Athletic.
Harkless joins Micah Potter and Oscar Tshiebwe as three Jazz gamers on two-way contracts. Every of them is restricted to only 50 NBA common season video games and isn’t eligible for the playoffs. They are going to spend most of their reps stay with the Salt Lake Metropolis Stars within the G League.
The Jazz have had current success with the G League and two-way offers with Johnny Juzang getting a typical contract for this season. Two-way contracts don’t depend in opposition to the wage cap, and groups can basically rotate gamers all through the season.
What Elijah Harkless brings to the Jazz roster
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Harkless is unlikely to see constant rotation minutes for the Jazz. However he is the type of prospect groups needs to be seeking to develop.
Harkless’ calling card is protection and he was in a position to showcase this means throughout the 2024 NBA Summer season League whereas taking part in with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers introduced Harkless to coaching camp, however he was one in all their final cuts. He was taking part in with their G League affiliate, the San Diego Clippers, when the Jazz signed him.
Undrafted within the 2023 NBA Draft, Harkless had but to make the NBA roster. He performed for the Clippers’ G League crew throughout the 2023-24 season and likewise performed a quick stint in Canada within the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).
This season, Harkless has stood out within the G League. In the course of the G League’s Showcase Cup portion of the season, Harkless had performed in 16 video games, averaging 15.2 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and a couple of.6 steals with splits 42 % taking pictures from the sector, 33.3 % taking pictures from the three-point line and 78.6 % taking pictures from the free throw line.
Earlier than the Jazz signed him, he appeared in two common season video games after the showcase. In these two video games, he averaged 26.0 factors, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals with splits of 55.6 % taking pictures from the sector, 50 % taking pictures from the three-point line and one hundred pc taking pictures from the free throw line.
