The Utah Jazz recently announced they have signed guard/wing Matthew Murrell to a contract. The details are undisclosed, but this deal is likely an Exhibit 10 contract – this means it will function primarily as a training camp contract, while providing Murrell a financial incentive to remain in Utah with the Jazz’s affiliate G-League team, assuming he doesn’t secure a guaranteed roster spot. Odds are this contract is very similar to Harrison Ingram’s, who’s signing was also announced by the team relatively
recently.
I felt a strong blast-from-the-past when I saw Matthew Murrell’s name on the Utah Jazz twitter account. When I was scouting the NBA draft back in 2022, I recall jotting down Murrell as a standout and a name to watch in future drafts. While he never was selected, he found his way onto the Salt Lake City Stars for the 2025-2026 season, where he struggled with his efficiency but clearly made a positive impression on management and the coaching staff.
Dating back to his college days, Murrell has been a streaky shooter with a shot that you still always expect to go in – the shooting form just looks too nice to miss. He combines this with a really solid frame and athleticism; he measures in at 6’4 in shoes, 200 pounds, with a 6’8.25” wingspan and a 40 inch max vertical (that he uses on his jump shot – he gets great elevation when he shoots). What caught my eye in college was that he looks the part. He moves with that synergy of strength and fluidity required of NBA role-players. This frame and athleticism allows him switchability on defense depending on the lineup surrounding him.
The worry with Murrell is that he isn’t quite good enough at any one thing to stick around the NBA. First and foremost, the long range shooting needs to stabilize – he shot 40% on good volume in 2024, but then both the volume and efficiency decreased in 2025. In the G-League, he shot 39% from three during the 12 game tip-off tournament, but only 28% when looking at the season as a whole. With his offensive game so reliant on his shooting (the ball handling is serviceable, but nobody would mistake him and his 1.9 collegiate assists per game for a point guard) and his defense additive but not exceptional, the three point percentages need to find a home in the mid-to-high 30s. If they do, Murrell has a punchers chance at finding a long-time home in the league as a strong, pesky shooter in the vein of one of OKCs many strong, pesky role-players. During this next season, when Murrell will likely once again be with the SLC Stars, he will be asked to prove how legitimate his shooting truly is. I consider that a wise, low-stakes bet by the Jazz coaching staff and management.
Watch some of Murrell’s scoring highlights below.
