Utah Jazz Sign Kenneth Lofton Jr.

The Utah Jazz have signed forward Kenneth Lofton Jr. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released. In a related move, the team has waived forward Otto Porter Jr.

Lofton Jr. (6-7, 275, Louisiana Tech) has two seasons of NBA experience in 2022-23 with the Memphis Grizzlies and in 2023-24 with Memphis and the Philadelphia 76ers. He’s seen action in 41 career games (one start) with averages of 4.9 points and 1.7 rebounds, posting a career-high 42 points on 17-of-25 from the field and 14 rebounds on April 9, 2023, at Oklahoma City.

He has additional professional experience in the NBA G League with the Memphis Hustle (2022-23) and Delaware Blue Coats (2023-24). He was named the 2022-23 G League Rookie of the Year and selected to the All-Rookie First Team and All-G League First Team after appearing in 17 games (15 starts), averaging 20.2 points on 54.1 percent from the field, along with 10.4 boards, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 steals in 28.5 minutes per contest. 

A native of Port Arthur, Texas, he was a two-year collegiate player at Louisiana Tech (2020-22) where he appeared in 65 career games (61 starts), owning averages of 14.3 points on 55.0 percent from the field, to go with 9.0 boards, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals in 24.9 minutes per contest. Following his freshman season, he was named the Conference USA Freshman of the Year and as a sophomore was selected to the 2021-22 All-Conference USA First Team.

Additionally, he represented the United States at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup in Latvia, where he helped the team earn a gold model while averaging 13.1 points on 64.9 percent shooting and 5.3 rebounds in seven games. 

Porter Jr. (6-8, 230, Georgetown) was acquired by the Jazz via trade with Toronto on Feb. 8.