This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Jazz announced Friday they have picked up veteran point guard Jamaal Tinsley's team option for the 2012-13 season and tendered a qualifying offer to reserve forward Jeremy Evans.
Tinsley will compete with Devin Harris, Mo Williams and Earl Watson for playing time. Evans will become a restricted free agent at 10:01 p.m. Saturday and Utah can match any offer he receives.
The Salt Lake Tribune first reported the Jazz planned to pick up Tinsley's option.
Brian T. Smith
Twitter: @tribjazz
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Press release:
Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor announced today that the team has exercised its option on guard Jamaal Tinsley for the 2012-13 season, and has tendered a qualifying offer to forward Jeremy Evans. Per team policy, financial terms were not released.
Tinsley (6-3, 190, Iowa State) is a nine-year NBA veteran who has appeared in 473 career games (367 starts) with Indiana, Memphis and Utah, and holds career averages of 9.3 points, 6.4 assists and 1.5 steals in 27.7 minutes. The former first-round pick (27th overall by the Vancouver in 2001) appeared in 37 games (one start) for the Jazz during the 2011-12 season, his first in Utah, and averaged 3.7 points, 1.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 13.7 minutes.
The 2012 NBA Slam Dunk Champion, Evans (6-9, 194, Western Kentucky) has appeared in 78 games (three starts) over his first two NBA seasons, averaging 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds while shooting .656 from the field. Originally selected by the Jazz in the second round (55th overall selection) of the 2010 NBA Draft, the Crossett, Ark., native was the first Jazz draft selection ever from Western Kentucky and is also the only player in franchise history to win the slam dunk contest.
In accordance with the league's collective bargaining agreement, in order for a team to retain its right of first refusal with respect to a restricted free agent, the team must tender the player a qualifying offer prior to June 30. A restricted free agent may sign an offer sheet with any team, but is subject to a right of first refusal with the team for which the player last played.