Report: Jazz Sign F Luka Samanic to New Deal
According to ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski the Utah Jazz have signed forward Luke Samanic through the 2023-24 season.
“The Utah Jazz are signing F Luka Samanic through the 2023-2024 season, a deal including guaranteed money and trigger dates, his agents George Roussakis and Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports tell ESPN. Samanic, 23, was the 19th overall pick to the Spurs in 2019," Wojnarowski tweeted.
The former 19th overall pick of the 2019 draft was signed by the Jazz to a 10-day contract back on March 28. Since becoming a Jazzman, Samanic has participated in five games, averaging 7.4 ppg while hauling in 4.0 rebounds.
Head coach Will Hardy is familiar with Samanic from his time as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs under Greg Popovich. Standing at 6-foot-10 inches, Samanic has the size and skill set to play the three or the four in a positionless style of basketball that the Jazz will be looking to transition into.
However, Utah will need its new acquisition to become a more efficient shooter if he’s going to be a permanent part of the rotation when the team is at full strength. In a small sample size of 41 NBA games, Samanic only shoots 29.4% from long distance and 61% from the charity stripe.
It’s the second 10-day contract that’s been parlayed into a longer deal in Utah this year. Point guard Kris Dunn recently signed with the Jazz after his second contract expired.
However, Dunn will need to earn his way onto the team next year, with the 2023-24 year not guaranteed.
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