Jazz Utah Sign Former 1st-Rounder To Extension

The Utah Jazz have seen enough over a five-game trail to know that they want the big man around into next season. Following the completion of his 10-day contract, Luka Samanic has agreed to a deal through the 2023-2024 season. 

The Utah Jazz are signing F Luka Samanic through the 2023-2024 season, a deal including guaranteed money and trigger dates, his agents George Roussakis and Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tell ESPN. Samanic, 23, was the 19th overall pock to the Spurs in 2019.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 7, 2023

Per NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the deal is partially guaranteed. 

The 6'10" power forward has played five games with the Jazz, getting some run, averaging 20 minutes per game. Samanic even drew his first NBA start since 2020 and scored a season-high 12 points. Over the course of his 10-day, he posted 7.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists. 

Samanic posted some big numbers for the Maine Celtics of the G League earlier this season. He averaged 20.6 points and 10.8 rebounds in 17 Showcase Cup games, and put up 22 points and 8.1 rebounds in 27 regular season games. 

The 23-year-old Croatian big man was the 19th overall selection in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs. He played parts of two seasons there, averaging 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds in only 10 minutes per game across 36 contests.

He'll now get a chance to cement himself a spot in the Jazz's rotation for next season. 

Photo: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports