3:14pm: In addition to waiving Zeller, the Jazz are also cutting Jared Butler, according to Jones and Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). The team has issued a press release confirming that Zeller and Butler have been waived, reducing the roster count to 15 players on standard contracts.
The decision to waive Butler comes as a bit of a surprise, since the team was very high on the former Baylor guard after drafting him 40th overall a year ago.
Butler appeared in 42 games as a rookie, averaging 3.8 PPG and 1.5 APG on .404/.318/.688 shooting. Utah will be on the hook for his guaranteed $1,563,518 salary unless he’s claimed on waivers on Monday.
2:42pm: Cody Zeller won’t make Utah’s regular season roster, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic, who reports (via Twitter) that the Jazz are waiving the veteran center.
Zeller fell victim to the roster crunch in Utah in part due to the nature of his contract. His minimum salary for 2022/23 is fully non-guaranteed, so the team won’t be on the hook for any dead money after cutting him.
The fourth overall pick in the 2013 draft, Zeller spent his first eight NBA seasons in Charlotte, then played for Portland in 2021/22. He played a limited role for the Blazers last season, averaging 5.2 PPG and 4.6 RPG in a career-low 13.1 minutes off the bench in 27 games before a right patellar avulsion fracture ended his season.
Having waived Saben Lee, Stanley Johnson, and Zeller, the Jazz will have one more roster move to make to get down to the regular season limit of 15 players on standard contracts. The club still has 16 players with guaranteed salaries. Udoka Azubuike, Leandro Bolmaro, and Rudy Gay are among the candidates to be the odd man out.
Woo, more minutes for Walker Kessler
Zero chance Udoka Azubuike gets cut
Can’t believe the Jazz cut Butler. The man can defend. He would be a great fit on a number of teams. I wish my Mavs would grab him. He makes a lot of sense as the backup SG in Charlotte or Cleveland who both have a 15 man roster spot open and both of whom need D.
Keep Gay but waive Butler.
They better get at least a decent 2nd for him. Even then, this is highly questionable for a soon-to-be tanking team.
Gay’s got 2 yrs left, I’m assuming his cut day will be in 365 more days if they can’t find a trade next year (difficult task Imo)-
Uh, they’re already at 15, website person. Juzang and Potter are both 2-way contracts. Zeller wasn’t a guaranteed contract. Even the SL Tribune says they’re done and down to 15.
The section about them still having 16 was written for the Zeller news. After the Butler update, they’re at 15.
Utah players will have to attend to themselves,
The team got rid of the BUTLER.
Jared Butler is a extremely surprising move. Leandro might be next to go.
Perhaps there’s hope after all for the Jazz. Dropping the balast (Butler ain’t cut out for it) a good step forward.