Jazz decide not to match Bucks' offer to G Williams

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Jazz decide not to match Bucks' offer to G Williams

August 21, 2004

SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) - The Utah Jazz on Saturday decided against matching the offer sheet tendered to restricted free agent point guard Maurice Williams by the Milwaukee Bucks.

With Olympians Carlos Arroyo and Raul Lopez at the point, the Jazz were not expected to keep Williams, a 2003 second-round pick who averaged 5.0 points and 1.3 assists in 57 games as a rookie.

"It was a difficult decision to make, but we will not be matching the offer sheet," Jazz vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor said. "The July additions of Mehmet Okur, Carlos Boozer, our two rookies as well as the emergence of Carlos Arroyo and Raul Lopez have realigned our basketball rotation."

The Bucks apparently are not counting on having point guard T.J. Ford healthy for the upcoming season. Earlier this month, they signed Mike James, a backup guard with the Detroit Pistons last season, and made the offer to Williams.

Last season, Ford, the Bucks' heralded rookie point guard, suffered a freak tailbone injury and has undergone cervical spine surgery. He is not expected to be ready for the start of the 2004-05 season.

Earlier in the offseason, the Bucks signed forward Etan Thomas to a six-year, $36 million offer sheet, which was matched by the Washington Wizards.