SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 Sports) - The Utah Jazz introduced their newest player Thursday, DeMarre Carroll, a 6-foot-8-inch forward who was released last week by the Denver Nuggets.
Carroll brings defense, rebounding, hustle, toughness and a sweet hairstyle to the Jazz.
"I'm just a blue-collar guy," said Carroll, who did not miss a shot with the Nuggets, going 6 for 6 from the field this season. "I'm going to do whatever it takes. Wherever coach Corbin throws me in at, I just got to go out there and do what I do. That's just be scrappy, dive in the crowd, throw my hair everywhere, just be myself."
"He'll be a good addition for us," said Tyrone Corbin. "He's a big 3-man who can play bigger guys. He really works hard on both ends of the floor. He's a physical defensive player and he's going to add a lot of energy to our team."
The move surprised some people, seeing how the Jazz are last in the NBA in 3-point shooting and need an outside threat.
Carroll, who was a first round draft pick by Memphis in 2009, is now with his fourth team in three years. But after stops in Houston and Denver, Carroll hopes to be around for a while in Utah.
"You have to be a professional to last in this league," said Carroll, who led Missouri to the Elite Eight in 2009. "There's a lot of guys who go from team to team and they finally found a home after their fifth or sixth team. So, I just take every opportunity with a grain of salt."
"He's able to come in and help the team instantly," said forward Paul Millsap. "He's not going to need a lot of shots. He's going to come in and rebound, play defense and get at it."
But it could take Carroll a little while to learn the Jazz system before he earns consistent minutes.
"I really don't worry about that," said Carroll. "I'll just come in here and do what I got to do. If I eventually get an opportunity, I get an opportunity."
"He's coming in mid-stride, and we don't have a lot of time to practice," said Corbin. "So, it's going to take him a little while to get used to it. But we've got time. We have a lot guys at that position already."
Carroll will be in uniform when the Jazz host Oklahoma City Friday night.
