Jazz to sign Earl Watson

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Vet guard Earl Watson has committed to sign with Utah Jazz.

http://twitter.com/SpearsNBAYahoo

League source tells FanHouse that veteran point guard Earl Watson will be in Utah Jazz training camp.

http://twitter.com/samickAOL

[DelaneyRudd]

So long Sundiata, been nice knowin ya.

[babyjax13]

This is one of the best moves the Jazz could have made. Watson is a professional, level headed professional that is the perfect, and I mean perfect, backup point guard in a Jerry Sloan team. I am so excited for the season to start!!!

Deron/Watson/Price
Bell/Miles/Price
Kirilenko/Hayward
Millsap/Kirilenko
Jefferson/Memo/Elson

That is a sick lineup

[Matt007b]

niiiice...

big upgrade, gaines/reggie miller need a hug. KOC, nice job!

[nghedman]

Ever since Watson and Ridnor played together and did tons for Seattle I've liked Watson. This is difinitly the best off season the Jazz have ever had.

Price just became the 3rd pg, not a good spot to be in.

[dalekjazz]

Maybe that's why Scheyer backed out after the Jazz started working out Watson and James.

[nghedman]

Deron/Watson/Price
Bell/Miles/Price
Kirilenko/Hayward
Millsap/Kirilenko
Jefferson/Memo/Elson

That is a sick lineup

That second team minus Hayward could be a starting line for many an other teams out there. Dang this is a good team this year.

[d-will8]

After the Jason Hart and Brevin Knight experiments, I'm a little hesitant about getting too excited over adding a veteran backup point guard regularly accompanied by adjectives like "steady," "professional" and "level headed" (not because those are bad qualities, but because Hart and Knight really didn't bring anything else to the table). Largely because Watson can actually create and shoot a little bit, however, I'm far more excited than recent Jazz history indicates that I should be.

Backup PG was the last significant hole on our roster we could've reasonably hoped to fill the offseason, and I'd say we did a pretty good job of it. In my mind, Watson is a clear upgrade over Price and adding him both solidifies a very deep and balanced rotation and makes me feel a lot better about our chances if Deron goes down for a stretch. Further, Price's energy and athleticism make him a perfect third guard.

I feel a kind of bad for Sundiata (best wishes) and, while I think a Watson/Williams backcourt pairing could be very good in spurts/specific situations, I'm slightly worried that Sloan will overuse it at the expense of Hayward and/or C.J.. Even so, I really like this move and I'm really excited about the roster we have going into training camp (though we still need to re-sign Fes or get another big man).

[HolyToledo]

Jazz ownership going all in for this season. I am pleasantly surprised by this signing. KOC and the Miller family deserve alot of credit.

[HolyToledo]

another link found.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogs/jazz ... s.html.csp

[seejaydeja]

Ever since Watson and Ridnor played together and did tons for Seattle I've liked Watson.

This.

Seeya later Sunny D.

[d-will8]

I wonder how big of a role CP3 and Melo wanting to be traded has played in the Jazz's uncharacteristically bold offseason.

[schneiderjazz]

I wonder how big of a role CP3 and Melo wanting to be traded has played in the Jazz's uncharacteristically bold offseason.

Me too. Probably a lot. But I'm kinda glad it happened. If you told me before the offseason that KOC was gonna trade for Jefferson and sign Bell and Watson, I'd say you were crazy. I'm also starting to like the Hayward pick, but then again, I wanted to kill KOC when the Jazz drafted Kosta, then I started to like the pick, only to hate it again after a couple of years.

[outerspacefella]

Very good, smart move. This is how to spend money to build a contender. Watson is a reliable point guard and a fairly competitive veteran on both ends of the floor.

IMHO backup PG was the mother of the holes. Last season Jazz played an average 11+ minutes of an stalled offense every game... do you really think a team can contend that way?

Excellent move by KOC. Giant sign by the Millers, whom I think will be about 9M into lux tax after signing Watson...

Jazz roster right now:
Williams, Watson, Price
Miles, Bell
Kirilenko, Hayward
Millsap, Evans
Jefferson, Okur(i), Elson

2 capable, competitive resources at every position.

One more big fella needed... and then it's time to round the roster with a wildcard from camp.

[Neon Black]

Now let's just get fes...i'm not as comfortable with our roster as some of y'all with evans, elson and having memo down for the count

[HolyToledo]

[quote="outerspacefella"]Very good, smart move. This is how to spend money to build a contender. Watson is a reliable point guard and a fairly competitive veteran on both ends of the floor.

IMHO backup PG was the mother of the holes. Last season Jazz played an average 11+ minutes of an stalled offense every game... do you really think a team can contend that way?

Excellent move by KOC. Giant sign by the Millers, whom I think will be about 9M into lux tax after signing Watson...

Jazz roster right now:
Williams, Watson, Price
Miles, Bell
Kirilenko, Hayward
Millsap, Evans
Jefferson, Okur(i), Elson (FESS)

I think thats it and the Jazz just add Fess only ...maybe wild card makes roster if he has great camp!

[JoyDivision]

I wonder how big of a role CP3 and Melo wanting to be traded has played in the Jazz's uncharacteristically bold offseason.

I doubt it had much to do with those two. I think the Jazz were just awaiting Boozer and Korver to come off the books; I think they realized that although they were good players in certain facets of the game they weren't going to be a core of a championship team. I'm impressed with the Jazz's offseason, they deserve to be commended.

[carrottop12]

Like Earl Watson a lot. 7.5/5 is an excellent back up PG to pick up, and while his shooting numbers have been down, he has shown the ability to knock down the 3 during his career, it'd be nice to see that come back.

Watson and Bell should add a level of defensive toughness as well, neither are afraid to get after it. Should help a lot with our perimeter D.

BTW, all this spending seems like a ploy to keep Deron if you ask me.

[jazzfan1971]

OH HELL YA!

[Wolverine]