Dennis Lindsey‘s transition from his executive VP of basketball operations position with the Jazz into an advisory role was framed as Lindsey’s call, but it was more of an ownership decision, according to Andy Larsen and Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune.
As Larsen and Walden explain in an in-depth story, new Jazz owner Ryan Smith is making some changes to the front office — director of pro player personnel David Fredman was also told this week that his contract isn’t being renewed.
One factor in the decision to reassign Lindsey was a “long-running disconnect” between the executive and head coach Quin Snyder, per the Tribune’s report. According to Larsen and Walden, Lindsey and Snyder had numerous disagreements both on and off the court, including not seeing eye to eye on rotation and roster decisions. Snyder – along with many members of the front office – were frustrated by the selection of Udoka Azubuike in the first round of the 2020 draft, per Larsen and Walden.
Given Utah’s success during the 2020/21 season, Lindsey and Snyder were on better terms during the last year, but several people in the organization still felt that this week’s announcement reflected a feud being settled. “Quin won,” one source told The Tribune.
Here’s more on the Jazz’s front office shakeup:
- While Lindsey is now an advisor in the Jazz’s front office, there’s an expectation that he’ll seek a job with another team, according to Larsen and Walden.
- Dwyane Wade has “added his voice” to front office discussions, but isn’t taking a day-to-day role in basketball and roster decisions, per Larsen and Walden.
- If former Celtics executive Danny Ainge joins the Jazz, it will likely be in an advisory role, says Tony Jones of The Athletic.
- Jones, Larsen, and Walden all say more front office additions are expected. Multiple reporters, including Jones, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, and Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald suggest that Wade’s former teammate Shane Battier is one candidate to join the basketball operations department. Battier worked in the Heat’s front office from 2017-21, but recently left that position and is now just a consultant for Miami.
Snyder is not advisor, Lindsey is
My comment
Good coaches is more important than GMs
You can say
Good coaches have more value than GMs
Most GMs are just terrible
Most GM’s are just terrible, they should all listen to fans like you.
GM Lindsay liked bigs, like Azubuike and Favors playing the 4; HC Snyder not. Battier is a possible hire in the FO because of a lack of diversity, not just in race, but also to replace Lindsay’s big round head role!
Useful article by Salt Lake Tribune.
Long pull:
“Lindsey and the team’s front office disliked Snyder’s tendency to keep smaller, consistent rotations, which prevented end-of-bench players and prospects from getting playing time, players that the front office believed in or wanted to raise the value of (among them Dante Exum and Nigel Williams-Goss).
• Meanwhile, Snyder believed [they were not good enough for minutes] and left holes on the roster unfilled, which limited his options in coaching — which became evident in the loss to the Clippers [that ended the year].”
Note: It was said all year that the team lacked a defensive 2, a guard version of 3 Royce Oneil… or like fomerlyz would say, they lacked enough wings. I thought they covered it with Shaq Harrison but they waived him.
The campaign ended with both guards hobbled and Gobert unable to cover everything.
Lindsay might ask… Did Snyder use everyone he could have or was he pulling a stunt? Miye Oni & Ilyasova DNP. New owner Ryan Smith made the call for Snyder.
I see similarities with Nick Nurse TOR.