Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey promised to be active and aggressive in pursuing players to bolster the team's roster when the free-agency period began this week.
Unlike last year when the team only re-signed free agent Joe Ingles, that's certainly happened over the course of the past two days.
The Jazz even joined the NBA's wild free-agency spending spree, which saw owners agree to fork out more than $1.5 billion in salaries.
In an attempt to bolster their bench with more wing depth, the Jazz agreed to terms with veteran small forward Joe Johnson late Friday night, according to TNT's David Aldridge.
The reported deal will be for two years and $22 million.
Johnson checks off several boxes for the Jazz, giving them a 15-year seasoned veteran and experience they lacked last year while going 40-42 with the least-experienced squad in the NBA.
Johnson, a seven-time All-Star, has averaged 16.9 points on 44 percent shooting, including 37.2 percent from 3-point range, during his lengthy and prosperous NBA career.
The 6-foot-7 small forward averaged 12.2 points, 3.9 assists and 3.6 rebounds for the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets last season. He averaged 20-plus points between 2005-10 and was most recently an All-Star in the 2014 campaign.
Until late Friday night, it looked like the Jazz might not have anything to show for their work. It seemed like they might be running out of top options after two of the players the Jazz were reportedly targeting to bolster their bench came to terms with other teams.
In the morning, Pacers small forward Solomon Hill, a player the Jazz have had high interest in for years, agreed to sign with the New Orleans Pelicans, according to multiple reports.
More bad news came for the Jazz — and for fans eager to get a free agent to rally behind — in the evening when Wizards small forward Jared Dudley committed to sign with the Phoenix Suns.
Hill, a 6-foot-7 forward who averaged 4.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in a reserve role in Indiana last year, will reportedly sign a four-year, $50 million deal with the Pelicans next week.
Dudley, a 30-year-old veteran who averaged 7.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists last season, will reportedly make $30 million over the next three seasons with the Suns.
Dudley won over the hearts of some Jazz fans when he openly expressed interest in playing for Utah on social media. He tweeted "I could see this!" when a Jazz fan said he'd be a good fit for the team and added "Have your people call my people" after a reporter agreed that he'd nicely complement Utah's roster.
Although the Jazz are notorious for being tight-lipped in their negotiations — and urge the agents of players they're trying to strike a deal with to keep business behind closed doors — it's also been reported that the organization is interested in veteran forward Luol Deng.
Deng would provide the Jazz with veteran experience they lack, having played 13 seasons in the NBA. He's also a versatile player who can put points up (career average of 15.5 points) despite not being a knockdown shooter from outside (33.4 percent 3-point shooter).
The 6-foot-9 Deng, who's been with Miami the past two seasons, has also been linked to Minnesota, Boston, Washington and the Heat this free-agency period.
Other reports suggest the Jazz are interested in acquiring Portland forward Moe Harkless. The athletic 6-foot-9 player has better potential than stats, having averaged 6.4 points and 3.6 boards for the Blazers last year in his fourth NBA season.
There was good news for one local player on a day that saw NBA owners shell out more than $1.5 billion in contracts. Former Lone Peak High big man Justin Hamilton, who played in Spain last year, reportedly agreed to a two-year, $6 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets.
