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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The Utah Jazz exercised the option on point guard Keith McLeod on Friday for 2006-07, keeping him from becoming an unrestricted free agent.
McLeod spent the last two seasons with the Jazz after signing as a free agent in 2004 as a backup to Raul Lopez and Carlos Arroyo. He ended up starting 79 of the 119 games he's played with Utah.
"He's certainly shown he can play in the NBA and he's an asset," said Kevin O'Connor, vice president for basketball operations.
Friday was the deadline for the option on McLeod, who averaged 6.2 points and 3.3 assists last season. He could have become an unrestricted free agent Saturday.
The Jazz now have three point guards in McLeod, Deron Williams, the third overall pick in the draft last year, and rookie Dee Brown.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-06-30-06 1532MDT
