CLEVELAND -- Jarrett Jack isn’t overly consistent and can play out of control. But when he’s got it going on, man, he can really fill it up.
That type of firepower is why the Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to sign the free-agent guard to a four-year deal that will pay him in the area of $25 million, FOX Sports Ohio sources confirmed late Saturday.
Jack, 29, averaged 12.9 points and 5.6 assists for the Golden State Warriors this past season. He played a crucial role in the Warriors’ playoff run, shooting 53 percent and averaging 15.5 points in a second-round loss to the San Antonio Spurs (six games).
He is expected to back up young guards Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters with the Cavs – and at 6-foot-3, Jack is capable of playing both positions. Overall, he’s probably an upgrade over the likes of Shaun Livingston and Wayne Ellington, the Cavs’ reserve guards to end the season.
While Livingston and Ellington were fairly steady, Jack is a bit more dynamic, and when he scores 15 or more points, you can believe it was more than just a once-in-a-while great night.
Next season will be Jack’s ninth in the league, so he also brings valuable experience to a team that could sure use a little. He has also spent time with the Portland Trail Blazers, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans.
On the downside, Jack was mostly hot-and-cold in 2012-13, going on stretches where he hit the 20-point mark regularly, and others where he failed to reach double figures. But when you’re talking about a guard in reserve, it's hard to ask for much more than that.
Scouts will tell you Jack possesses a strong mid-range game and is underrated when the idea is taking care of the ball. He is said to be better at defending shooting guards than fleet-footed point men.
Jack is the Cavs’ second free-agent pickup of the offseason (and week). They also reached an agreement with forward Earl Clark on a two-year deal with a team option in 2014.
Double Dribbles
• Livingston, picked up by the Cavs on Christmas Day, has reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with the Brooklyn Nets. The 6-7 point guard filled in admirably for Irving both as a reserve and occasional starter. He joins a stacked Nets team that now includes former Boston Celtics stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.
• Ellington, also a free agent, is still unsigned. He is said to be drawing interest from the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks.
• Former Cavs forward Omri Casspi has agreed to a two-year deal with the Houston Rockets, according to multiple reports. The Rockets are also interested in free-agent guard Daniel Gibson, sources said. Gibson has spent his entire career with Cleveland and is a native of Houston.
Twitter: @SamAmicoFSO
