SALT LAKE CITY — Earlier this year, the Atlanta Hawks brought the “Georgia Jazz” to Utah with three ex-Jazz players, all starters.
Monday night it was the “North Carolina Jazz” aka Charlotte Hornets who came to town with three ex-Jazz players who are all starters — Al Jefferson, Marvin Williams and Mo Williams.
It didn’t turn out to be a great homecoming for the three ex-Jazzmen, who watched helplessly as the Jazz took a 94-66 victory that was even worse than it looks.
Each of the three players expressed how much they enjoyed their time in Salt Lake, especially Marvin Williams, who said he is considering settling down in Utah when he retires.
“It’s always good to get back to Salt Lake and see everybody and the area again,’’ Marvin Williams said. “It was a great experience here. I loved it here, man. I had a really good time last year playing with the young guys and watching them get better each and every day. That was really fun for me as well. I loved my two years out here.’’
Williams liked it so much in Utah that he spent time here during the All-Star break.
“I snuck back in here during the All-Star break,’’ he said. “Johnnie Bryant, the player development coach, and I have become really close the past couple of years, so I stopped in and spent a couple of days with him.’’
As for the future, he said, “Yeah I love the area here, I love Salt Lake. My family loves it here. It’s just an hour and 15-minute flight from Seattle (where he grew up), very close. It’s nice and quiet and the people are nice. I love the area, so it’s definitely something I would look into.”
Jefferson first commented on the unseasonably warm weather in Utah and said it’s almost nicer than it’s been in Charlotte this winter. The Hornets came in on Sunday and Jefferson said he spent a lot of time catching up with old friends.
“I got a chance to see everybody,’’ he said. “My young guys have grown — Gordon and all those guys. I had a chance to see the security guys, ushers, guys I was great friends with. I got a chance to see everybody.’’
Jefferson said he really enjoyed his three years in Utah when he averaged 18.5 points per game.
“It’s always good to come back where you played,’’ he said. “The people are super nice here. I loved them and they loved me, so it’s always fun to come back and see old friends and play in front of this great crowd. Especially if you’re playing for the Jazz — the crowd is amazing.’’
Mo Williams had two stints with the Jazz, in 2003-04 and 2012-13. He went to Portland last year, moved to Minnesota this year and was traded to Charlotte midway through the season. It’s been a good fit for him and the Hornets as he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week last week for leading his team to a 4-0 record. He wasn’t as effusive about his time in Utah, but said he was happy to be back.
“It’s always great,’’ he said. “Obviously the fan support is great. It was a pleasure to be part of an organization that was top-notch, everybody from top to bottom that does things the right way. I was fortunate enough to be a part of, especially being able to play for Jerry (Sloan).’’
For the night, Jefferson scored 10 points and had seven rebounds, Mo Williams scored seven points and Marvin Williams had three points.
NO HARD FEELINGS: Both Mo Williams and Jefferson left after the 2012-13 season when the Jazz let them leave as free agents. After last season, Marvin Williams was a free agent and he said how much he’d like to stick around. But Jazz management had other ideas and Williams ended up in Charlotte, where he’s started 20 of 60 games and averaged 7.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
“It was tough,’’ he said. “You never know what’s going to happen in free agency, especially when you’re unrestricted. I enjoyed my time here and I think they enjoyed having me here. Things happen but there’s no hard feeling at all. I was very thankful they gave me an opportunity in the first place.
COTTON GETS DEAL: The Jazz announced Monday they had signed guard Bryce Cotton to a multi-year contract, although financial terms were not announced. Cotton was on his second 10-day contract after joining the Jazz on Feb. 24. Although he’s appeared in three Jazz games, averaging 1.7 points in 4.0 minutes per contest, the Jazz have seen enough of his game to sign him to a contract.
“Bryce is a player who I think has been competing for his opportunity from the time he was young, whether it be in high school, at Providence or the D-League or now in the NBA,’’ said coach Quin Snyder. “He’s someone who’s never been given anything. And personally I like guys like that — there’s a fiber to him. He can really shoot the ball. He’s a guy who has the potential to really shoot the ball.’’
The Jazz also signed 6-10 center Jack Cooley to another 10-day contract on Monday. In his three games since his first stint in Utah, Cooley averaged 22.7 points and 22.7 rebounds for the Idaho Stampede.
Both players got in Monday’s blowout victory with Cooley getting two points and three rebounds in 10 minutes of action and Cotton going scoreless in three minutes.