Report: Jazz To Sign Cody Zeller
Sep 20, 2022, 4:37 PM | Updated: 4:38 pm
Cody Zeller plays against Draymond Green (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz are reportedly signing free agent center Cody Zeller according to The Athletic.
Zeller, 29, is entering his tenth NBA season and spent last year as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers.
The center began his career in Charlotte where he was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. Zeller spent eight seasons with Charlotte before signing with the Trail Blazers last summer.
Free agent center Cody Zeller has agreed to a deal with the Utah Jazz, sources tell me and @Tjonesonthenba.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 20, 2022
In 494 appearances in the NBA Zeller has started 273 games and has averages of 8.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in 22 minutes per game.
Zeller will compete to earn a spot on the roster with only Udoka Azubuike and rookie Walker Kessler under contract at center.
Azbuikie is entering his third NBA season but has appeared in just 32 games due to injury and the Jazz depth at center.
Kessler was the 22nd overall pick in June’s NBA draft and was acquired by the Jazz in the Rudy Gobert trade in July. The rookie missed both the Salt Lake City and Las Vegas Summer League with a toe injury suffered during the pre-draft process.
The first year center was one of the top recruits in the country coming out of high school and committed to the University of North Carolina in the summer of 2020. After seeing limited minutes with the Tar Heels as a freshman, the center transferred to Auburn and quickly blossomed in Bruce Pearl’s system.
CODY ZELLER DUNKED ON GIANNIS 🤯 pic.twitter.com/alhtjEwCak
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 31, 2021
Kessler averaged 11.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and a staggering 4.6 blocks as a sophomore while shooting 60 percent from the floor in just 25 minutes per game.
Zeller was a star in two seasons at Indiana before entering the 2013 NBA Draft. The Hoosier averaged 16.1 points and 7.3 rebounds while leading Indiana to a 29-7 record and a trip to the Sweet 16.
Brothers Tyler and Luke Zeller also spent time in the NBA. Tyler last played for the San Antonio Spurs in 2019 while Luke spent one season with the Phoenix Suns in 2012-13.
The Jazz will host media day on September 26 and open training camp on the 27th.
