Othyus Jeffers might have been just the fourth-leading scorer on the Iowa Energy, but when the Jazz solicited opinions on the NBA Development League's toughest player, Jeffers' name was at the top of the list.
Now Jeffers can claim a spot on their roster. The Jazz signed the 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard/forward -- a former NAIA Player of the Year at Robert Morris in Chicago -- to a 10-day contract Wednesday.
"He sure plays with a chip or two on his shoulder, like he's got something to prove just about every single second he's on the floor," Iowa coach Nick Nurse said.
According to a March 2008 story in USA Today , Jeffers was shot in the left thigh while coming to his sister's defense in a dispute with her boyfriend the previous year. Two of Jeffers' older brothers also were murdered while he was growing up.
The Jazz had needed to sign a 13th player to meet NBA roster minimums following the Feb. 18 trade that sent Ronnie Brewer to Memphis. Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor previously had expressed his preference for a veteran.
With a thin pool of players, however, almost all with injuries and other question marks, O'Connor opted for Jeffers. The Jazz still could explore the possibility of signing a veteran the rest of the season as they evaluate Jeffers.
Jeffers has averaged 14.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in 22 games with the Energy. He was the D-League's Rookie of the Year last season, then opened this season with an Italian team before returning to Iowa, which has a league-best 30-9 record.
Nurse said other teams had been "really honing in" on Jeffers in recent weeks and that Jeffers was a "touch surprised" when the Jazz called him up. It didn't take long, however, for Nurse to become convinced that the Jazz were the right fit for Jeffers.
"The way the kid plays, it's almost impossible for any coach not to love this kid," Nurse said. "He just is one of those guys that has some of those intangible things that every coach loves.
"He is just fearless and gets loose balls and makes the big rebound. He just wills people to play better and wills people to win."
Nurse described Jeffers as "non-positional" and even playing power forward at times despite his size. With Jeffers' quick first step and slashing ability, Nurse said he probably projects best as a small forward.
Jeffers played two years in college at Illinois-Chicago, with the Jazz having tried to sign him to their summer-league team in 2008. He will join the team in Utah on Friday, following tonight's game in Phoenix.
Going small
More and more, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan is using a front court of Carlos Boozer , Paul Millsap and Andrei Kirilenko in the final minutes of close games.
It happened again in Monday night's 108-104 loss to the L.A. Clippers, with starting center Memo Okur being the odd man out.
"I believe it's matchups because, many of the teams we play, sometimes they use smaller guys," Okur said. "That's why we play Boozer and Paul at the same time. I don't mind. It is a coach's decision and I respect that. I just have to be ready when they put me on the floor."
The improved play of Kirilenko, who is Utah's best shot blocker, has given Sloan more options during the team's recent hot streak.
"No doubt," said Okur. "When Andrei is active and he's healthy, he's great defensively. He's active. He blocks shots. ... If he's healthy, he does a great job for us."
Asked about his recent substitution pattern, Sloan said: "If I could tell you exactly, I would. But it's more of a gut reaction that I have -- why I play or don't play a lot of guys. It's just a gut feeling you have."
Sloan acknowledged that the ability of smaller opponents to beat Okur down the floor enters into his thinking.
"Sometimes we're in a situation where changing ends seems to be a problem for us," he said.
Family first
Jazz assistant coach Tyrone Corbin did not take the team charter to Phoenix.
Instead, Corbin attended his son's 5A state tournament game on Wednesday afternoon at Weber State before catching a late commercial flight.
"I just think that's part of people trying to stay in touch with their family," Sloan said. "I don't see anything wrong with that."
Asked if Sloan altered his schedule when his children played high school sports, he said: "Yeah, but I was unemployed. I didn't have to worry about missing work."
