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Chicago • The Utah Jazz reportedly will sign guard Travis Leslie, despite already carrying the maximum number of players.
The Most Valuable Player of the D-League All-Star game averages 16.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for the Santa Cruz Warriors. On Friday afternoon, the former University of Georgia player retweeted scores of messages congratulating him on joining the Jazz and posted a message of his own: "Glad to be given this opportunity. Couldn't be here with the man above." He finished the message with the hashtag, "GodIsGood."
Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey declined to comment on a Yahoo Sports report Leslie had been "called up" by the Jazz, and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin O'Connor referred questions to Lindsey.
To create a space for the 6-foot-4 Leslie, the Jazz would need to reduce their roster by one. Herb Rudoy, agent for guard Raja Bell, said he had "not heard a word" from the Jazz about a possible buyout of his agent. Bell was offered a buyout by the Jazz before the season, but he wanted more money than the Jazz offered. He has not been with the team all season.
On March 1, Bell became ineligible to play in the playoffs with another team if he was bought out by the Jazz.
Leslie was drafted No. 47 overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers and spent a season with the Clippers before being cut before this season.
In 10 games with the Clippers, Leslie scored 14 points over 45 minutes.
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