Samanic signed a one-year contract with Turkish club Fenerbahce on Monday. The 24-year-old big man from Croatia will make his return overseas after he had spent the past five seasons stateside since entering the NBA as a first-round pick of the Spurs in 2019. After failing to emerge as a rotation player with the Spurs over his first two seasons in the league, Samanic played exclusively in the G League in 2021-22 before resurfacing at the NBA level with the Jazz over the past two seasons. He made a career-high 43 appearances in 2023-24, averaging 4.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in 9.1 minutes per contest. Since Samanic likely would have had to settle for a non-guaranteed deal in free agency if he had chosen to stick around in the NBA, he'll head to Turkey on what's presumably a more lucrative contract.
Samanic finished with 22 points (7-17 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 7-9 FT), six rebounds, two assists and one steal over 34 minutes during Thursday's 124-121 victory over the Rockets. Samanic has started in Utah's last two games, and it wouldn't be surprising if he does it in the final two contests of the campaign as well given the Jazz have nothing to play for down the stretch. Samanic has racked up 37 points, 16 rebounds and five assists during those two contests, so he could be worth a shot in deep slates given this unexpected increase in his usage rate.
Samanic posted 15 points (6-15 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 10 rebounds and three assists across 35 minutes during Tuesday's 111-95 loss to the Nuggets. The 24-year-old forward played a career high in minutes Tuesday for a Utah frontcourt missing Lauri Markkanen (shoulder), John Collins (back) and Walker Kessler (nose), and Samanic turned the workload into his first career NBA double-double. With the Jazz jockeying for lottery positioning, Samanic may retain a significant role in the rotation for the final three games of the season.
Samanic ended with 12 points (3-6 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 5-7 FT), five rebounds, one assist and one block across 19 minutes during Tuesday's 129-113 loss to the Cavaliers. The Jazz utilized Samanic frequently toward the end of last season, and it's a similar script for the fourth-year pro during his 2024 campaign. The Croatian is far outside the realm of fantasy viability, but the Jazz are out of the playoff hunt and will explore their bench liberally as the season comes to a close.
Samanic will come off the bench for Friday's game against the Hawks. Taylor Hendricks is returning from injury, and he'll immediately join the starting lineup. Samanic has been struggling in five March appearances, shooting 32.1 percent from the field and 23.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Samanic chipped in seven points (2-4 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds and one assist in 14 minutes during Tuesday's 123-107 loss to Boston. Samanic got the starting nod in place of Walker Kessler, playing a limited role but still managing to finish second on the team in rebounds while falling three points short of the double-digit mark in a losing effort. Samanic has started in three games this season, posting his first game as a starter with at least five points and five boards Tuesday. Over those three starts, Samanic has averaged 6.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists per contest.
Samanic is in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Celtics, David Locke of Jazz radio reports. Samanic will replace Walker Kessler in the starting five Tuesday. Samanic is averaging 6.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 blocks in 21.0 minutes across his last two starting appearances.
Samanic is not in the starting lineup to face the Nuggets on Saturday. Samanic made back-to-back starts against the Wizards and Bulls, but he'll return to his regular bench role with the addition of Walker Kessler to the starting unit. Samanic is averaging just 5.8 minutes per game when deployed off the bench, so he shouldn't have a big impact in most slates.
Samanic will start in place of Lauri Markkanen (quad) Monday against the Wizards, David Locke of Utah's radio network reports. Samanic will log his first start of the season and the fifth start of his career Monday. He is joined by Taylor Hendricks and John Collins in Utah's frontcourt, easily representing the least desirable fantasy option of the three.
