Jazz waive Jamaal Tinsley, reportedly eyeing D-Leaguer Diante Garrett

Jamaal Tinsley's (left) time is up in Utah, with Diante Garrett the reported front-runner for the Jazz's final roster spot. (Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jamaal Tinsley's (left) time is up in Utah, with Diante Garrett the reported front-runner for the Jazz's final roster spot. (Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Jazz may have welcomed a transitional season with the offseason departures of Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap, but even rebuilding teams have their standards. With that, Utah has elected to waive veteran guard Jamaal Tinsley from its roster, per Aaron Falk of The Salt Lake Tribune, despite the fact that the team is remarkably light on viable ball handlers as it is.

Tinsley, unfortunately, hadn't been of much in that regard. Despite a familiarity with Utah's systems from having played for the Jazz in the past two seasons, Tinsley had registered as one of the worst rotation players of this young NBA season. He started five games for the Jazz, in which he scored five points in total and shot 2-for-12 from the field. Tinsley did, in fairness, pick up enough assists to average 2.9 per game over his brief stay in just 13.8 minutes a night.

His release comes at no further cost to the Jazz, as he was signed -- following a preseason injury to No. 9 overall pick Trey Burke -- to a one-year deal on a fully unguaranteed salary, according to Sham Sports. Given just how poorly Tinsley has played, Utah will almost certainly be better off in giving his roster spot to a younger prospect.

Diante Garrett

Marc Stein of ESPN.com

Suns

Thunder

undoubtedly be considered

Stein reports