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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz are taking swings at two young forwards.
The Jazz announced the signing of Kenneth Lofton Jr. to a non-guaranteed deal on Monday. The team is also planning on signing former first-round pick Darius Bazley to a similar contract, KSL.com has confirmed.
Bazley, 23, was the No. 19 pick in the 2019 draft and has averaged 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in the G League this season. The 6-foot-8 forward was drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder and spent 3.5 seasons there. He was traded to Phoenix at last season's deadline but appeared in just seven games for the Suns. Last month, he signed a 10-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Bazley has good length on the defensive end, but only a 31% 3-point shooter. He's been most effective as a small-ball five — and had some big block number games in the G League. He's got some face-up and driving ability, too. And even though this is his fifth year, he's still young.
As for Lofton, the 21-year-old undrafted forward was waived by the Memphis Grizzlies in December. He signed a two-way deal with the 76ers shortly after that but was waived by Philadelphia earlier this month.
Lofton, who was the G League Rookie of the Year last season, is averaging 2.4 points and 1.1 rebounds in 17 total games this season.
The moves give the Jazz an extended look at two young forwards with the hope they can find a full-time contributor. Utah did a similar thing last season with Kris Dunn and Luca Samanic late in the year.
To make room for the deals, the Jazz waived Otto Porter Jr. Monday. The veteran forward hasn't played since being acquired from Toronto in the Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji trade. Utah will likely waive Taevion Kinsey, who the team signed to a 10-day deal on Saturday, to clear space for the pending Bazley deal.
