| | Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY -- The Jazz unveiled one of their two newest
off-season acquisitions on Thursday, but team officials were
hesitant to call Donyell Marshall the answer to Utah's playoff woes.
| |  | |
| Marshall |
"People have asked me what's wrong with Utah?" Jazz owner
Larry Miller said at Marshall's press conference at the Delta
Center. "Now we have four very good veterans to help us out and
answer that question. There's nothing wrong with Utah."
The Jazz picked up Marshall from Golden State as part of the
first four-team trade in NBA history, which was finalized
Wednesday. The team also got 7-foot-2 center Bruno Sundov from
Dallas and has signed Danny Manning, John Starks and John Crotty in
the past two weeks.
As part of the four-team deal, the Jazz sent Howard Eisley to
Dallas, forward Adam Keefe to the Warriors and gave up their
first-round draft pick in 2001. Eisley, who was the primary backup
to John Stockton in Utah, passed on a five-year, $20 million
contract last week.
"I haven't looked forward to a season upcoming this much in six
or seven years," Miller said.
The Jazz entered the offseason at a crossroads. After losing to
the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 5 of the Western Conference
semifinals, it became clear the current nucleus of aging players
Utah had depended on for years just wasn't working anymore.
Once again, 36-year-old Karl Malone and 38-year-old John
Stockton will return for the Jazz, but increasingly it began to
look like there wouldn't be an NBA title to reward their standout careers.
The loss to Portland marked Utah's shortest playoff appearance
in five years, leaving the team with a sense of resignation that a
championship might not be meant to happen.
Miller's reluctance to promise that success this season wasn't
his alone. Marshall also was hesitant to say how his addition might
improve the team.
"I'm not going to put pressure on myself and say I'm the
element to get them there," he said. "But with the pieces we've
put together in the offseason, we're definitely going to go far."
Marshall was the fourth overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, but
was traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Golden State
Warriors midway through his rookie season for Tom Gugliotta. In 32
games with the Warriors, Marshall averaged 14.8 points and 6.5
rebounds and was named to the NBA's All-Rookie Second Team.
In 1995-96, Marshall averaged 5.5 points per game and 3.4
rebounds. He followed that with 7.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per
game the next season before making a run for the NBA's Most
Improved Player Award with an average of 15.4 points per game and
8.6 rebounds in 1997-98. He finished third in voting for the award.
Marshall began losing playing time in 1998-99 to Warriors'
rookie Antawn Jamison, averaging 11.0 points per game and 7.1
rebounds. He improved again in 1999-2000, averaging 14.2 points per
game and 10 rebounds, but was plagued by tendinitis in his left
knee and played in only 64 games.
Jazz Vice President Kevin O'Connor said Marshall had cleared a
physical and has been given the go-ahead to work out with Utah. "It has been a problem and we'll continue to monitor it,"
O'Connor said of Marshall's knee.
"I've been lifting with my knees," Marshall said. "I've been
feeling pretty well. Obviously they're not where I want them to be
yet, but I've got six weeks to get them there."
Marshall said he was disappointed to leave the Warriors, who
finished 19-63 last season, just as the troubled team seemed like
it might start coming together. But the regret can't compare to his
excitement at being part of championship-caliber team.
"I haven't even made it to the playoffs yet and I'm already
nervous about the first game," he said.
| |
ALSO SEE
Four-team deal moves Fortson, Marshall, Eisley
Manning says he has a two-year deal with Jazz
|
