<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> With another year under the point guard's belt, the Utah Jazz expect a little more out of Keith McLeod than he gave them last season as an expected backup thrust into a starting role for 47 games. So when it came time Friday afternoon to complete their contract negotiations, the Jazz gave McLeod even more than they'd offered this summer, assumed to be $937,500. With McLeod in the fold, the Jazz were able to announce their training-camp roster of 19 players, with one spot technically still open. Camp begins Tuesday in Boise. McLeod was a restricted free agent, and this summer the Jazz had to present an offer sheet to him or lose the right to match any other team's salary offer. Apparently no other NBA team tried to sign McLeod, so he and the Jazz negotiated. The qualifying offer would have expired today. The Jazz Friday offered McLeod more money than earlier, in exchange of possibly receiving an option for a longer contract. Kevin O'Connor, Jazz senior vice president of basketball operations, would not elaborate on the contract length but said the Jazz negotiated because, "You might want him back for more than a year ? you might. I think we were bidding to try and make sure that he was comfortable coming back, and we were comfortable having him back."</div> <div align="center">Source</div>
Coventional thinking has it that McLeod was the holup waiting for a better offer. I think it was the Jazz. They were hoping to land a superior player b-4 going into camp but it didn't happen. Still they have McLeod right where they want him. His money is tied to incentives. If he doesn't perform he won't break the bank and the second year is a team option. I see him as the third man in the rotation, and I think this will be his final season in Salt Lake. Tank
