Rookie Kevin Murphy likely headed to D-League — but not quite yet

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Rookie guard Kevin Murphy did not travel with the Jazz to Sacramento late Friday night, and is expected to be sent to Reno, the Jazz's D-League affiliate on Monday. However, there is a hangup for the first-year player from Tennessee Tech.

The team plans to assign Murphy to the D-League after the weekend, but an injury to starting point guard Mo Williams foot could potentially delay that. Wiliams missed most of Friday's win over the Kings and is listed as doubtful for Saturday's game in Sacramento with what is being called a moderate sprain of his right forefoot. In the event Williams is held out for an extended period of time, the Jazz would likely hang onto Murphy as a last line of defense in the backcourt.

Still, it's hard to envision Murphy still being with the team by Wednesday, when it commences a three-game road trip in New Orleans. He was moved out of the active lineup Friday, when veteran point guard Earl Watson returned from April knee surgery. Murphy has appeared in two games for the 7-6 Jazz, scoring 4 points in 6 minutes.

— Bill Oram