Meet
Who is the Junkyard Dog?
Posted by: Lowery Johnson on February 8th, 2012
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.Wednesday afternoon the Utah Jazz announced via Twitter the agreement of contract terms with small forward DeMarre Carroll.
Who is the newest member 
of the Utah Jazz?
Comming out of the University of Missouri, DeMarre “Junkyard Dog” Carroll was a first round pick (overall 27th) for the Memphise Grizzlies in 2009. In his last year of college ball, Carroll was shooting 36% from the three (with not many three point shots attempted per game) and 56% from the field. As a senior he averaged 16.6 points and 7.2 boards in 28 minutes over 38 games played.
Currently, Carroll’s NBA statistics don’t show much having only played 87 NBA games since being drafted in 2009. Carroll has spent a lot of time bouncing around team to team with little opportunity to prove what he can do in the league. From the Grizzlies, he was sent down to the D-League, then involved in a trade with the Rockets. From the Rockets Carroll was later waived. He ended up with the Nuggets during training camp. Shortly after the season began with the Nuggets Carroll was again waived.
Before the draft, concerns about Carroll’s health were raised. Carroll has liver disease that may require a transplant several years down the road. He also had surgery on a gunshot wound to the ankle following a dispute at a night club in Missouri. Carroll reassured NBA teams he would not let these issues affect his career. He requires little treatment for his liver condition and seemed pretty positive about his NBA potential in an article in the New York Times. Despite health rumors, DeMarre was praised for his toughness and versatility, two things that probably led to his first round selection.
Here’s a video pre 2009 NBA draft to help you get to know the new guy: 
What do you think of this new addition? What role will Carroll best fit on the Jazz roster?
Follow DeMarre on Twitter: @DeMarreCarroll1
Replies: 21
Views: 1162
21 Responses
I hope he is trade filler? I would have expected Lil Sap before this. At least Lil Sap can shoot 3 point shots. We dont need another project, we already have that in Miles. Thoughts?
Looks like DeMarre Carroll will be a very good addition to the Utah Jazz (another guy with a chip on his shoulder). He will provide defense and energy – as well as, insurance (as President Rigby put it) for another one or two more trading moves.
Go Jazz, find more Diamonds on the rough !
What do you mean? 1/2 of the JaZz’s roster is should be, could be, hopefully will be, give him a few more years projects…..
@Patrick He could be a trade filler. Unfortunately as fans we have limited information behind these moves from the head office. I don’t think KOC’s intention with Carroll was to bring in a 3 point shooter though. CJ isn’t a project so much as a work in progress.
@Arnell I don’t foresee him getting substantial playing time. Whose time could he take and use better? But I think you’re right, a potential good addition!!
@Jazzman What makes you think that?
Wow, this guy does not exactly scream “Utah Jazz” but he is already on Twitter asking where to eat in town, so that will endear him to fans. I believe he is indeed trade material, so I don’t know if some other team wants him and he will be added to balance out a trade in the works or he was signed to replace an existing player we have. Not sure who he would be significantly better than. We should know within a few days.
He isn’t tade material at all he fits what corbin wants that’s why he’s on the team now. Im thinking this means cj is gone. We have cj hayward howard and now carrol all can play the three. So one of thos guys are gone for sure. Fingers crossed on cj sorry cj its been 6 years and you haven’t shown me much at all. If carrol is asking for places to eat around town he isn’t going to be traded anytime soon either. The players know what’s going on with trades believe it or not. Im excited this kids and athlet maybe he will be start one moving without the ball and get the offence some flow. Wich is what we need yes everyone we need that before 3 point shooters. And maybe that’s what koc is thinking with this
Projects….. i.e. Miles, Hayward, Favors, Evans, Burks, Kanter all big mysteries. Which ones will work out, which ones will not. All a gamble and unknowns, a big chunk of the team and no one really knows who will pan out and who will not. Miles has had years the others rookies or 2nd year players. Not one has really made a huge impact with the team yet, like a Kemba, a Kyrie, a Wall, a Rubio, a Knight, a Griffin, a Monroe, a Cousins and so on……and only time will tell.
Lowery, thanks for the info on Mr. Carroll.
Jazzman, I appreciate your comments, but not sure I see eye-to-eye with you on this one. Of the youngsters you mention who have had a “huge impact” on their team, you include Kemba Walker, John Wall, Brandon Knight, Greg Monroe, and DeMarcus Cousins. Those players have led their teams to a combined record of 31-99 this year. I’ll give you Irving, Rubio, and Griffin. But overall, the Jazz are in much better shape than the teams of most of the players you mentioned. Jazz are trying to pull off the rare feat of competing while rebuilding.
Tremor/James, really? This kid has been playing the DLeague, and there is better to be found. How will this guy contribute? Miles has more exp and better ball handing skills and isn’t as frail. This guy is too light to play PF, has no outside shot and is working on ball handling skills. He lives in the paint which is already crowded. So how is he to help? Is there someone hurt or traded yet, if not how does he get off the bench? Wouldn’t trying Evans at the 3 made more sense? How about adding Elijah Millsap who actually has an outside shot, ball handling skills, and is putting up similar numbers in the same league this guy just.came from. Doesn’t make sense? Would make more sense in a regular season where we have practices for him to learn the system, this killer schedule we are entering, well what can he hope to learn. Lil Sap at least had an idea of what is going on here.
Patrick I can’t believe your throwing this guy under the bus before he even plays a game. Your so sold on lil sap, there has to be a reason any other teams haven’t picked him up. Similar numbers in the d league doesn’t always transfer over to their performance at the next level. Also sap may have idea about a utah system but so does carrol every team he has played on has prepped for the jazz and he also knows the nba tempo and, physicality of the game. Let’s see him play a few games before we start saying he isn’t as good as little sap or whatever. The fact is carrol is here saps not let’s give him a chance. Koc has done a great job finding talent where no one else sees it. Your boy milsap is a great example of that
Carroll may be a low risk, potential solid reward guy. I like that he has a few years of experience. He was stuck behind a pretty impressive front court in Memphis and Denver (and the same here), but must have enough talent to warrant a look.
As for a trade on the horizon, who knows. It would not surprise me one way or the other…
Trever, not saying Lil sap is better, he addresses needs better. This guy may be as good as Miles, for better price, and not stopping to make poor jump shots. As to the argument of no one bringing sap up, no one was bringing Carroll up either. Will be nice if he can defend, makes him way better than miles. I guess I should say I am not against Carrol, just don’t understand it.
@Deb I think you are right, but that’s what makes me nervous. I really love all the guys on the team at this point and I hate to see any of them traded. Sometimes, as hard as it is, I just have to keep reminding myself that this is a business.
@Trevor I think you bring up some good things, however based off the numbers and amount of experience he has I do not see DeMarre capable of replacing Hayward, Miles or Howard right from the get go. He has a lot to learn. Keep in mind he’s been in this league nearly three years and has only played in 87 NBA games.
@Jazzman Kanter makes an impact every second he is in the game.
@James Thanks man! I also agree, we have youngsters who are making major impacts.
@Patrick First of all, I think KOC has a lot more experience at this than you or I. Like you, I don’t understand it. Also, it’s really too early to tell how he is going to contribute. As Deb said previously, he may be part of a bigger plan. I think if they wanted Lil Sap that would have picked him. From his tweets, it seems like DeMarre knew he was coming out here maybe as early as Feb. 4th. Says to me a little planning went into this, it wasn’t just a grab the first guy you see situation.
@David Jazz execs are big on Low Risk – Solid Reward! I’m hoping he’s a project and not part of a trade… But, it is what it is. Thanks for the comment David!
This definitely means a trade…
I agree with Dave801… Sounds like we are trying to trade 3 players to get 1 to keep the minimum amount of players on a team. Just my take on the situation.
Bed im not saying anything about replacing them. They need to make a trade for harris and, the teams they talked to would only except the offer if cj hayward or howard was in it as well. So they went and picked up carrol I think he has the opportunity to replace miles and howard no problem. Miles is inconsistant and his scoring is way down. The kid doesn’t play much deffence or pass the ball either. Howard talented but, is still hurt doesn’t have the shot he had a few years ago either. Im not saying he will or he wont replace them but he has the oppurtunity if he comes in and goes to work
@Dave801 & Michael only time will tell
@Trevor I hadn’t heard about them talking to certain teams and those teams making demands, where did you hear that?
No where but im just saying the jazz have an idea of what they want and have been talking to teams about it. Im a firm believer that teams talk with out the media reporting on it. I see something happening with in the week though
@Trevor of course they do, but let’s not make assumptions about trading my favorites haha.
@Michael I think your right about the trade but I dont think the jazz would trade three for one during a lockout
Also I hope they dont just bust out and ove him soon. I want to see how he plays first and see if kevin oconner found talent where most people dont look.
My fault lowery, just saying something has to give now. We have 4 sf right now, that’s one or two more than we need and, harris has some value to him. So its going to be harris and one of the four. Ramon sessions I think is are best bet. Maybe get him and some other young kid on that team.