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Utah Jazz sign point guard Diante Garrett from D-League

By Brad Rowland

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Feb. 24, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Diante Garrett (10) handles the ball against the San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) in the second half at US Airways Center. The Spurs defeated the Suns 97-87. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Feb. 24, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Diante Garrett (10) handles the ball against the San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) in the second half at US Airways Center. The Spurs defeated the Suns 97-87. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

When the Utah Jazz jettisoned veteran point guard Jamaal Tinsley in favor of an empty roster spot, the entire NBA community assumed that they would quickly pick up a younger replacement. That thought has come to fruition as of Wednesday afternoon.

Garrett is a bit of an unknown commodity at this stage, as the 25-year-old from Iowa State has only appeared in 19 regular season games in his career. Those 19 contests came with the Phoenix Suns last season, where he averaged just 2.1 points (on 32.7% shooting from the field) and 1.6 assists per game in 7.8 minutes.

The unique part about the Garrett signing is that he was inked directly from the NBA’s Developmental League, as he was set to begin the season as a member of the Iowa Energy. He is the first “call-up” of the young season from the D-League, and there actually could be an immediate role for the young guard in Utah due to the continued absence of lottery pick Trey Burke at the point guard spot.

Garrett could be a nice short-term fill in for the Jazz, but they desperately need Burke back in the lineup if “contention” is a possibility in the Western Conference.

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