There was a couple of times when I got down on myself and he was there to pick me up. Always hustling. That’s just the type of player he was. – Jazz point guard Dante Exum
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz's roster is set for the beginning of the 2016-17 season.
Center Jeff Withey, power forward Joel Bolomboy and point guard Raul Neto made the final cut. Small forward Chris Johnson, however, did not.
Johnson, who provided the team with some gritty play but inconsistent shooting last year, was waived by the Jazz before Saturday morning's practice.
That move gives the Jazz the maximum of 15 players heading into Tuesday's season-opener at Portland. All NBA teams must have their rosters whittled down to between 13-15 players by Monday afternoon.
Teammates felt for Johnson, who first joined the Jazz on a 10-day contract during the 2014-15 season.
"Chris was the hardest-working guy I knew," Jazz point guard Dante Exum said. "He was always the guy who was talking in practice. There was a couple of times when I got down on myself and he was there to pick me up. Always hustling. That’s just the type of player he was."
Johnson, a 6-6 player from Dayton, Ohio, averaged 5.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in six preseason games. He averaged 3.5 points and 1.8 rebounds last season in Utah.
"Good luck to my bro Chris Johnson," Jazz center Rudy Gobert tweeted. "This guy is a NBA player, and a tough one."
FINAL CUT: Here's how the Jazz roster looks for the upcoming season:
Point guards: George Hill, Dante Exum, Shelvin Mack, Raul Neto; shooting guards: Rodney Hood, Alec Burks; small forwards: Gordon Hayward, Joe Johnson, Joe Ingles; power forwards: Derrick Favors, Boris Diaw, Trey Lyles, Joel Bolomboy; centers: Rudy Gobert, Jeff Withey.
JAZZ NOTES: Coach Quin Snyder did not attend practice Saturday for personal reasons. … Gordon Hayward (finger), Derrick Favors (IT band), Boris Diaw (right leg contusion) and Alec Burks (knee rehab) did not participate in Saturday's team practice. … Guard Rodney Hood on former Weber State star Damian Lillard and his recently released rap album, The Letter O: "I caught one song with Lil Wayne. I liked that song. Hands down, I think he’s the best rapper in the NBA." … Hood on his healing left hand: "It’s getting better every single day."
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