The Jazz are waiving injured guard Vince Williams Jr., Kevin Reynolds of the Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Williams suffered an ACL tear in his left knee in a game against the Rockets on Feb. 23, just his sixth game with the team. In addition to ending Williams’ 2025/26 season, the injury is also likely to keep him sidelined for a significant chunk of ’26/27.
The 47th overall pick in the 2022 draft, Williams was acquired by Utah from Memphis last month along with Jaren Jackson Jr. and two other players. In six games with Utah, Williams averaged 4.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists. The former Toledo guard played in 34 games with the Grizzlies prior to being traded, averaging 8.0 PPG, 4.4 APG and 4.0 RPG in 21.6 MPG.
Williams has a $2.3MM contract this season. The Jazz held a $2.5MM team option on his contract for 2026/27, which will automatically be declined if he clears waivers.
Utah chose to open up a roster spot due to a wave of injuries. Jackson, Jusuf Nurkic and Walker Kessler had already been declared out for the season and Lauri Markkanen is sidelined with a hip injury.
The Jazz will now have 13 players on their standard roster plus Mo Bamba, who is on a 10-day deal.
Sucks his NBA career is over. 3rd string can’t afford to get hurt like this. If this happened at the beginning of the year he might have made it. But he will be out in until February next year. G League. I would go over seasons next year. But I wish him a good recovery and blessed new process And journey
It should also be noted he is out of Two-Way eligibility.
That can help players get back in the league if they have to Red Shirt early in their career, but unfortunately not in this case.
This guy can contribute. Has shown that in his grizzlies’ days. He and GG Jackson II kind of broke out at the same, a couple of seasons ago. I think GG has more upside (arguably star potential, as a 6’9 forward who van play in the perimeter and do a little bit of everything), including his 44 and 12 game.
Vince Williams Jr. contributed in the Grizzlies, and, while this is a tough blow as any ACL injury, and I agree he’s still not an established NBA player, it doesn’t mean his career is over. At least that’s my view
Im being honest it’s 75 percent chance his career is over in the NBA. He is a 3rd string no two way eligibility. And he is 25/26. Will be 27 when he can come back. What jump is he going to have. He way playing well for a Memphis team that wasn’t winning. Team will turn to younger players.
He was fighting to get his extension pick up next year. I was hoping he looked good for the jazz and could be 3rd string. He does have good defense and can get to the rim. His play making and jump shot would need to approve.
Is is it 100 percent over no. But with confidence he has about 15 percent chance
Interesting move! Normally the Jazz would simply be applying for a Hardship exception in this instance (as they had four players Out for the Season / expected to miss more than 2 weeks), but that would require them to actually put a timetable on players like Markkanen (and perhaps even Nurkic).
That would have allowed them to keep Vince as tradeable salary at the Draft.
Perhaps it’s just as simple that they prefer to use the roster spot to acquire someone else on a Non-Guaranteed / Multi-year deal.
It should also be noted that dropping under 15 roster spots does affect their Two-Way eligibility (72/90 instead of 72/100), so they will want to sign someone.
It’s probable that Mo Bamba will sign for the rest of the season as the 14th man.
I think there’s an opportunity to add 1 IL spot per team that stays off the cap sheet if said player doesn’t play in any games before a said date (say 1/15)
It work similar to the 60 day DL in baseball that allows you to add another player to your 40 man roster while inj player heals – ( a cut would be necessary later and in my NBA proposal as well)
This is AN NBA Player, who might not ever play in the NBA again. Keeping them on IL would grant them access to medial facilities, personal, and trainers/coaches as well
I was thinking about his access to the facilities also. I would think the jazz would make everything available to him during his rehab if he had nowhere else to go and established the area as his home.
I’m only guessing, but I think that’s how a team would approach this even if they cut the player.
Typically when a player is traded this late in the season, they live in the Westin, Four Seasons, etc… for the rest of the season – especially with a player with a contract like he has. Well, really anyone for that matter, this late in the season.
I doubt he stays there to do his rehab. And, especially not being under contract, I doubt the trainers or medical staff people there would be willing to assist him. If he had a medical issue or his rehab didn’t go as well as he and his “camp” would like, no Jazz personnel would wanna be held liable.
I could see him aided back in Memphis more than I could see it in Salt Lake.
But, I got food poisoning in Salt Lake two days before Christmas 20 years ago and couldn’t even fly out with the team, so I don’t have fond memories of that city!
Correct, most player with a non guarantee have furnished places. So maybe not the Westin they have a few other spots. Not sure if he has a family. He won’t be working out there. And he was competing to get his option picked. Still not bad 3.5 this year. I tell all the fringe guys. Don’t spend any money focus on basketball it goes fast. Most guys are done by 28. You make 15-20 after taxes 7-11.5. a lot of money. But not if you’re taking care of family and buying houses. Hopefully he has been renting and rehab somewhere cheap this next year.
Whenever there is discussion about Jazz “injuries” the term should be in quotes (Williams excepted). I.e., Markkanen is out with a hip “injury”, Nurkic is out with a nose “injury”.
Danny Ainge is ruthless. Williams is young enough and contributes. Sucks for a young guy finding his feet and trying to play his dollars up.