Newz Forum: BASKETBALL: Jazz sign F Humphries, G Snyder to three-year deals, page 1

SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) - Forward Kris Humphries and guard Kirk Snyder, the first-round picks of the Utah Jazz, signed three-year contracts Monday, the team announced.

Terms were not disclosed, but under the rookie salary scale, Humphries will receive $3.98 million and Snyder $3.59 million. The Jazz hold fourth-year options on both players.

Selected 14th overall, Humphries was the first lottery pick in franchise history as the Jazz missed the playoffs for the first time since 1983. Snyder was taken two picks later.

The 6-9, 238-pound Humphries left Minnesota after his freshman season, during which he was named Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year. He averaged 21.7 points and 10.1 rebounds for the Golden Gophers, although the team finished with a losing record.

A McDonald's All-American, Humphries struggled against double-teams and finished the season with just 20 assists. He is expected to back up both forward spots for the Jazz, who start All-Star Andrei Kirilenko and Matt Harpring in the frontcourt.

The 6-6, 225-pound Snyder should give the Jazz some needed athleticism. He is a streaky perimeter player who Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year last season after averaging 18.8 points as a junior at Nevada.

Snyder only made 35 percent of his 3-pointers last season. He is solidly built but must improve his shooting to succeed in the NBA, especially if he is going to earn playing time behind Gordan Giricek.