The Washington Wizards are reportedly open to parting ways with five-year guard Garrett Temple who has caught the interest of the Utah Jazz following the injury to Australian point guard Dante Exum.
Temple has been with the Wizards for the past three seasons and last season played in 52 regular season games which included 18 starts as he averaged 3.9 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per outing.
In Washington's playoff campaign last season, the 29-year-old played in four games and averaged 1.8 points per game.
Temple has been a journeyman in his young NBA career alreadyhaving stints with the Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks and the then Charlotte Bobcats before playing for the Wizards.
The former LSU defensive standout also has played in the NBA Developmental League (D-League) and in Italy.
Temple is the third guard in the Wizards lineup behind All-Star John Wall and veteran Ramon Sessions that is why he is having a hard time getting significant playing minutes.
Washington does not really use Temple and that may be the reason why the team is open to trading him to the Jazz who are reportedly interested in his services.
Jody Genessy of the Deseret News said, "The Jazz are interested in pursuing a trade for Wizards guard Garrett Temple, the Deseret News has been informed."
According to Genessy, Jazz head coach Quin Snyder is pushing for a trade deal and has established a great relationship with Temple when he was still in the D-League.
Utah is interested in Temple after the team's second-year point guard Exum tore his ACL playing for Australia in an exhibition game against Slovenia last week.
Temple will likely be taking over Exum's roster spot and playing minutes once the Wizards and Jazz agree to a deal.
Exum is one of the pieces in the Jazz's young core expected to compete for a playoff spot next season.
