UTAH JAZZ
Jazz Waive Saben Lee
Oct 9, 2022, 8:27 PM | Updated: 8:41 pm
Utah Jazz guard Saben Lee (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz have waived guard Saben Lee.
The team announced the news late Sunday night as the front office works to trim the roster down to 15 players ahead of opening night of the regular season.
Lee, a point guard entering his third season was coming off a difficult second year in which he averaged 5.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists.
We have waived Saben Lee and signed Darryl Morsell https://t.co/waj1k91qDA
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 10, 2022
The Jazz acquired the guard from the Detroit Pistons in the Bojan Bogdanovic trade in September along with center Kelly Olynyk.
The guard was originally drafted by the Jazz in the second round of the 2020 NBA draft but was traded to the Pistons on draft night along with center Tony Bradley in a salary-dumping move.
Lee’s $1.7 million contract was set to expire next summer but has a team option for the 2023-24 season. The Pistons sent the Jazz $1.7 million in the trade to cover his salary.
The Jazz roster now sits at 17 players on guaranteed contracts, plus two-way wing Johnny Juzang and non-guaranteed center Cody Zeller.
The team has to shave the roster down to 15 players on guaranteed deals not counting two-way contracts by opening night.
The Jazz also announced it had signed Darryl Morsell who will be waived and joining the Salt Lake City Stars.
Lee Waiver Clears Path To Sign Micah Potter
Waiving Lee clears room for the Jazz to sign free agent center Micah Potter to a two-way contract.
Potter, 24, is entering his second NBA season after making three appearances for the Detroit Pistons last season.
The center signed a 10-day deal with Detroit in December and played a total of 31 minutes with the team. The deal was first reported by The Athletic and confirmed by Potter on his Twitter account.
“God is good!” Potter tweeted when news of the signing was first reported in September. “Thankful for the opportunity! Time to work!”
God is good! Thankful for the opportunity! Time to work! 😤🙌🏻 https://t.co/5hD3fa01UH
— Micah Potter (@BigJam_23) September 20, 2022
Potter also played for the Sioux Falls SkyForce, the Miami Heat G League affiliate after going unselected in the 2021 NBA draft.
Earlier this month Potter was signed and waived by the Pistons in order to join their G League affiliate the Motor City Cruise, but agreed to the two-way deal with the Jazz before the beginning of training camp.
Potter began his college career at Ohio State in 2016 where he averaged 4.1 points in two seasons with the Buckeyes.
The center spent the final two years of his career with the Wisconsin Badgers where his numbers climbed to 11.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
