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Utah Jazz waive shooting guard Matt Thomas before contract becomes guaranteed

Thomas would have been owed about $1.7 million next season

(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) and Utah Jazz forward Georges Niang (31) welcome newcomer Utah Jazz guard Matt Thomas (21) off the court during a timeout as the Utah Jazz host the Memphis Grizzlies, Mar. 27, 2021 at Vivint Arena.

The Utah Jazz have waived shooting guard Matt Thomas, as the organization continues to trim salary ahead of the start of free agency on Monday.

The Jazz are over the salary cap and flirting with the luxury tax line, a threshold the team will surely cross if the organization re-signs free agent point guard Mike Conley.

Last week, the Jazz used a future first-round draft pick to unload veteran big man Derrick Favors’ $9.7 million annual salary. Waiving Thomas, whose contract would have become guaranteed this week, cuts another $1.7 million off the team’s payroll.

The Jazz traded a 2021 Golden State second-round pick to acquire Thomas from the Toronto Raptors in March, looking to add shooting depth to their bench.

But Thomas, who had shot 45.7% from 3-point territory over the course of three seasons with the Raptors, failed to deliver in Utah. The guard appeared in 19 games for the Jazz and shot just 25.6% (10 for 39) from deep during his limited action.

Thomas’ best game in a Jazz uniform came on April 28, when he scored 17 points and went 3 for 3 from behind the arc, in a win over the Sacramento Kings.