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Bryce Cotton and Jazz finish Vegas Summer League on a strong note

Bryce Cotton #8 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball against the Washington Wizards during the 2015 NBA Las Vegas Summer League game on July 15, 2015 at The Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. CREDIT: BART YOUNG
Bryce Cotton #8 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball against the Washington Wizards during the 2015 NBA Las Vegas Summer League game on July 15, 2015 at The Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada.
CREDIT: BART YOUNG

The Utah Jazz ended the Las Vegas Summer League with a 2-3 record, winning games against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers. While last year’s first-round picks Dante Exum and Rodney Hood didn’t participate due to injuries, other Jazz regular season roster players Bryce Cotton, Jack Cooley and Chris Johnson stood out.

In the first game against the Miami Heat, Jazz point guard Bryce Cotton scored 28 points, while adding five rebounds and four assists. The Jazz fell short, losing to the Heat 82-79 while their #10 overall pick sat out due to “general soreness,” and the Jazz’s #12 pick, Trey Lyles, scored eight points and grabbed four rebounds.

The second game against the Minnesota Timberwolves resulted in a matchup between former college teammates Karl Anthony-Towns and Trey Lyles. While Towns had the better stats of the two, including 14 points and 10 rebounds, Lyles and the Jazz got the win. Lyles chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds himself.

In game three of the summer league, Lyles got a rematch with another college teammate. This time, it was shooting guard Devin Booker. Booker scored 18 points, helping the Suns beat the Jazz. Lyles scored 10 points while Bryce Cotton, Jared Cunningham and JaJuan Johnson contributed 13 apiece in the losing effort.

Game four matched up the Jazz with the Washington Wizards and #15 overall pick Kelly Oubre, who outspokenly said that he was the best player in the draft during the workout process. Oubre scored 12 points to help the Wizards beat the Jazz 86-78. Cotton, of the Jazz, added 20 points, despite the loss.

Game five was the final game for the Las Vegas Summer League, and the Utah Jazz took on #2 overall pick D’angelo Russell and the Los Angeles Lakers. In the last game, Jazz fans finally got to see why the Jazz brass and management were so excited to take Lyles at #12 when he scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while hitting four threes.

According to the San Diego Union Tribune, JJ O’Brien and the Utah Jazz agreed on a partially guaranteed deal that ensures him a spot on the camp roster to compete to make the final roster come opening night. O’Brien played one season at the University of Utah before transferring to San Diego State and playing over 100 games in his home town.

Australian forward Brock Motum has also been offered a partially guaranteed camp deal but has not accepted it yet. The 6’10″ Australian played his college ball at Washington State before playing for the Jazz Summer League team a year ago and spending the last year playing professionally in Australia for the Adelaide 36ers.

Jazz point guard Trey Burke was selected as one of 41 participants who will get a chance to try out for team U.S.A., which will compete at the Rio Olympics. The tryouts and scrimmages will take place at the UNLV campus between August 11th and 13th. Burke will compete with Jimmy Butler, Mike Conley, Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes, Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo for a spot on the roster.

The Jazz players and coaches report to camp the first week of September to prepare for the season. Brazilian point guard Raul Neto is currently at P3, while many players are in Salt Lake City working out with coaches and boxing trainers.

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