National Basketball Association

Utah Jazz Media Day: Jeff Withey Working on the Corner Three

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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As he battles for a roster spot as the team’s third center, Utah Jazz big man Jeff Withey has been working to expand his game.

Entering training camp, Utah Jazz center Jeff Withey finds himself in a unique position. The team likes what he does on the floor and he’s entering the 2016-17 NBA season with a full year in the Jazz system under his belt. Nevertheless, his contract for the upcoming campaign is not guaranteed and he’s one of a handful of players fighting for Utah’s lone remaining roster spot.

Although he told the team’s radio commentators David Locke and Ron Boone at Jazz Media Day that head coach Quin Snyder now has a better understanding of the player he is and how he can help the team, Withey is working to add some new wrinkles to his game to help secure his spot.

More specifically, he’s trying to become another floor-spacer for the Jazz.

“I’ve been working on corner threes,” he said on Monday. “I think that will help, just to help spread the floor a little bit.”

Withey says defense is still his hallmark, but believes a more versatile offensive game will help the Jazz and himself. It’s a philosophy shared by multiple Jazz big men; Derrick Favors and Trey Lyles have both been working on their long-range shooting this offseason.

Of course, shooting from distance isn’t really something Withey is known for. In 146 games at the professional level, the 7-foot center has attempted just three shots from behind the arc. He was perfect from three-point range in college, but took just one shot from deep in four years at Kanasas.

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Still, if he can expand his range, it should bode well for his chances of landing that final roster spot. He’s probably the favorite to do so anyway, but an ability to stretch the floor would undoubtedly seal the deal for Withey.

He’ll be pushed by Henry Sims in training camp, but the third center role is Withey’s to lose.

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