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With roster moves, Jazz get a fresh look at new two-way players

Rubio donates $20,000 to help fund cancer research<br>

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio (3) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony (7) as the Utah Jazz host the Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City, Saturday December 23, 2017.

They’ve seen what he can do in the G League. Now the Jazz will be able to see how Naz Mitrou-Long’s game translates to the NBA.

The Iowa State product was signed to a two-way contract officially on Saturday, putting him at the end of the Jazz bench for as many as 45 days this season.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio (3) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony (7) as the Utah Jazz host the Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City, Saturday December 23, 2017.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio (3) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony (7) as the Utah Jazz host the Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City, Saturday December 23, 2017.

The 6-foot-4 guard has averaged 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3.7 assists with the Salt Lake City Stars. Just before the holidays, the front office made the call to waive Nate Wolters, who appeared in five Jazz games, to be able to move Mitrou-Long between the Stars and the Jazz. The contract also allows him to make a pro rata NBA minimum salary for all the days he’s up with the Jazz, which is a big pay boost from G League salaries.

“I think Naz’s thing right now is to be prepared to play if need be, and to use the opportunity to get better,” coach Quin Snyder said. “That’s why he’s here. We had him in training camp and he did a really good job. We want to try to develop young guys. That’s part of the system we believe in.”

The week has seen the Jazz waive both their initial two-way contracts: Eric Griffin was waived earlier in the week for Louisiana Tech forward Erik McCree. Both Mitrou-Long and McCree were present at the Jazz facility Saturday working with Stars coach Martin Schiller.

No one has known exactly how two-way contracts will work in their first year. The Jazz initially anticipated holding on to Wolters and Griffin for longer when they were first signed in the offseason. Part of the decision has to do with the potential of Mitrou-Long and McCree. Part of it also has to do with stirring up the Stars, who are languishing with a 3-17 record, the worst in the G League.

Snyder said Wolters “did an excellent job for us” and called the personnel decisions “the nature of the beast.” But the Jazz are excited to see what the two new two-way players could bring to the table.

“In this case, Naz has been in our program,” Snyder said, “and he gets an opportunity.”

Rubio pens big Christmas gift for cancer research

Ricky Rubio just dished out his best assist of the season, and it won’t be on a highlight reel.

At the Huntsman Cancer Institute on Friday afternoon, the Utah Jazz point guard donated $20,000 to charity 5 for the Fight — a gift matched by Layton Construction to help fund cancer research.

The cause is a personal one for Rubio, who is in the midst of a $150,000 campaign for 5 for the Fight, a non-profit partner of the Jazz. Rubio’s mother, Tona Vives, died of lung cancer in 2016, and Rubio marked the check for lung cancer research to help treat other cases like hers.

The 27-year-old Spaniard also took advantage of his day off by visiting patients and doctors at the Institute, giving away free knit caps to people he met there. During the season, he’s also spoken at cancer charity events and given away 500 tickets for a cancer awareness night.

The Jazz as an organization have worn 5 for the Fight patches all season while raising money for cancer research.

Jazz get a holiday breather

While the NBA always has a stacked slate of games for Christmas, the Jazz will be spending the holiday with their respective families before an evening flight to Denver.

Snyder said he made sure that the flight got pushed back a few hours. It also seems unlikely the Jazz will practice on Christmas Eve. While he would be open to playing on Christmas, Snyder said the Jazz will be thankful for the time they get at home for the holidays.

“It’s part of this profession. I guess for us you can look at it half full or half empty,” he said. “Maybe someday we’ll be playing on Christmas Day, and then we’ll lament not having Christmas. … But you push the flight back a couple hours, make sure the kids have enough time to open presents and you still have enough time to pack.”