In the wake of Quin Snyder stepping down as head coach of the Jazz, star guard Donovan Mitchell is being described as “unsettled, unnerved and wondering what it means for the franchise’s future,” according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Snyder was a significant reason why Mitchell signed a five-year, maximum-salary extension with Utah in 2020, according to Wojnarowski, who says the coach’s decision to step down came as a surprise and a disappointment to Mitchell.
Mitchell is coming off a season where he averaged 25.9 points per game, the second-highest mark of his five-year career. He shot 45% from the floor and 35.5% from three-point range during those outings, continuing to establish himself as one of the league’s premier scorers.
Mitchell was acquired by the Jazz on the night of the 2017 NBA draft. The three-time All-Star would garner significant interest on the trade market if he became available, as he holds career averages of 23.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists at just 25 years old.
Rumors have persisted for years about possible tension between Jazz stars Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, and there has been speculation about whether the guard wants to remain in Utah long-term. Mitchell has repeatedly dismissed that speculation, but if he’s at all dissatisfied with Snyder’s exit, it likely won’t be long before those whispers start up again.
Of course, as Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune tweets, it’s possible Mitchell simply wants to have a significant say in who the team’s next head coach is. He’s reportedly close with current Knicks assistant and former Jazz assistant Johnnie Bryant, who has already been cited as a possible candidate for the job.
As Larsen observes (via Twitter), Mitchell, Bryant, and Wojnarowski are all represented by CAA.
Now it’s your turn, Knicks fans
Just about every team should be offering their left nut for him. Maybe not both… unless it’s the Lakers or Knicks…. They should offer both.
Time to blow up the Jazz ……
But first give the name back to New Orleans
Sure, right after the Lakers give back the Lakers to Minnesota. Lol
Utah and Jazz are both four letters. It works for them as it doesn’t mean music anymore. It’s Jazz basketball. :)
That being said, if they want to rename the team Utah Pioneers or something then I’m sure the fanbase would get over it eventually. Lol
Actually, bald eagles live throughout the state. Utah Eagles would be a great alt name. Maybe Salt Lake City Eagles if you want to match the naming format of the rest of the league? They all use the city name, except Golden State. Maybe Beehive State Eagles? :)
So do pelicans, in fact there’s one of the largest white pelicans colonies in the world on an island on the Great Salt Lake. New Orleans and Utah should trade mascots and nicknames.
I’ve heard this before and no. Pelicans doesn’t exactly inspire fear. Sorry your owner had a stroke when picking the name. We’ll pass. :)
Ummm….the owner of the team I’ve rooted for for over 35 years name starts with R and ends with yan Smith.
But really, your team name doesn’t have to be affiliated with your area. That’s just one way to find a name. Fur example, Washington Wizards are more likely because of the W and not actual wizards in DC, right?
But seriously, the Utah Jazz has been in Utah longer than it was in New Orleans. If they haven’t done it by now then it’s highly unlikely to change now unless ownership are serious about a rebranding overhaul and not just a rebuild.
I’m sure Utah can come up with a more deserving name. To promote their state or city. It’s what it’s suppose to be about.
There’s not much there to promote besides Mormons, Pelicans and very pretty rocks.
What do you think about:
Salt Lake Dragons
Utah Eagles
Salt Lake City Eagles
Utah Dragons
Utah Rocks :)
Salt Lake City Rocks
Utah Red Rock
Utah Slopes
Salt Lake City Slopes
Salt Lake Slopes
Utah 4x4s
Utah Climbers
Utah Dunes
Utah Desert
Salt Lake City Sound (salt flats are where the ground based speed record were accomplished. They broke the sound barrier).
Utah Sound
SLC Sound
Salt Lake Sound
Salt Lake City Speed
Utah Speed
SLC Speed
Salt Lake Speed
Utah Great Salt Lakers :)
Utah Raptors (an actual creature, largest raptor to ever live)
Utah Dinos
Utah Birds of Prey
Utah Cretaceous
Utah Predators (could license the Predator movie character. Lol)
Utah Outlaws (Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid hid out in Southern Utah. Plus, countless westerns were filmed in Utah)
Salt Lake City Outlaws
Salt Lake Outlaws
SLC Outlaws
Utah Marshalls
Utah Frontiersman
Utah Pioneers
Utah Spirit (to honor the Mormon heritage and frontier spirit)
Salt Lake City Spirit
Salt Lake Spirit
I’m an idea man. I could go on for days. Lol
Salt Lake Sister Wives?
Valiant effort by the Jazz the last 3-4 years. At times they looked like the most complete team in the NBA. Other times they showed a lack of cohesiveness needed to just close out games, let alone close out a Playoffs series. To small of a market to be top spenders with no results. Sell high on Gobert and Spida. You’ll probably get a bargain for Clarkson too. Jazz fans, hope the path through the west is easier in 5 years and smile. It’s rebuild time.
The Jazz are likely going to wait on making moves until they sign a coach. They’ve usually liked having the coach’s input. Hopefully, the get a coach who is great at seeing and bringing out the best in players and those around him/her. :)
Utah might as well blow it up. No coach they bring in is getting them any further.
Pistons offer Grant, Stew, Bey and 5th pick for Mitchell.
While it’s true they want Grant it’s only because they have Mitchell.
Remember when Williams was a pain in the &$@ and jazz coach jerry solan reigned. Welp history repeated
Quin was a good coach babysitting shouldn’t be part of his job
I’m done with the jazz
Cry babies drama no games on local tv screw the jazz
Frustration is part of sports. Doesn’t matter what team you end up following. Struggles help you appreciate the good times more. Can’t have quitters on a roster. However, there’s also being realistic. Doing the same thing every year, and it doesn’t work, is by definition insanity.
Of course, there’s the possibility they bring in the right coach, along with a roster retool, and they end up going further into the playoffs. Do they keep doing that? I’m not opposed to that, but a true rebuild is what I’d recommend in the end.
It’s not time yet for a full rebuild. A lot of people thought the Celtics and Bucks should’ve rebuilt after a few successful but in the end frustrating years. The Bucks got a title and the Celtics are in the Finals.
Utah has 2 All-NBA level players which aren’t easy to come by and some good role players. I think it’s time to takes the training wheels off Mitchell and make him the lead guard. Shop Clarkson, Bogie and a first to see if you can’t find a big wing like Grant or equivalent, they have the Ingles trade exception to help salaries match. Then finally send Conley to the bench to replace Clarkson and run the 2nd unit.
New lineup
PG: Mitchell
SG: House
SF: O’Neale
PF: Grant or equivalent
C: Gobert
6th Man: Conley
Then fill out the bench with Whiteside, Gay, Forrest etc.
I think definitely move Clarkson, bring Conley off the bench as a playmaker/guard defender, and have shooters/defenders next to Mitchell. Also think Grant would be a great fit for them at the 4/5, but not sure how they would be able to pull that off, although I could see Detroit being interested in Clarkson as a scorer. I’m not sure about moving Bogdanovic, even though they got guys like House and Hernangomez as shooters at the 4. I think replacing Ingles is probably the most important thing, as well as half court scoring, and the small ball 5 (although Paschall was supposed to give them that, and he played well in the regular season)
Doesn’t have to be exactly Grant. Anunoby, Otto Porter, Prince or anyone of that ilk.
You can somewhat replace Ingles skill wise but there really isn’t anyone in the league quite like him as far as a combination of smarts, skills, leadership and heart other what would be a major upgrade in Jimmy Butler but unfortunately I don’t think he’s available.
Anunoby should definitely be less likely than Grant, but ya, someone that can play defense at the 3/4, and preferably someone that can play small ball 5, as Grant can
I also agree. Ingles can also guard the guard spot, and I’ve always thought he had amazing hands as a defender, as well as great positioning. He is of similar ilk to Iguodala in that regard
Knicks have nothing the Jazz would want. At least be realistic.
Let’s say Donovan gets moved the deal is going to look huge surely.
Just some ideas:
1. Donovan Mitchell and Royce O’Neale for Evan Fouriner, Julius Randle, IQ and 3 first round picks.
2. Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gay for Caris LeVert, Colin Sexton (sign and trade) Issac Okoro and 3 firsts
3. Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony and the number 1 overall pick plus a future first
4. Donovan Mitchell and Bogdanovic for CJ McCollum, Zion Williamson and number 8 pick
5. Donovan Mitchell for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and 2 firsts
No to the first two proposals but I’d be very intrigued by the last 3, especially Zion, CJ and a pick.
In all honesty the last 1 is my favourite. Yeah I threw out the Knicks and Cavs as options cause they will both be linked but probably don’t have enough. The last 3 are much more intriguing
First deal is simply cause Knicks will definitely be linked. Jazz then have what Conley Fouriner Gay Randle and Gobert which is so mid.
Don’t even think Mitchell is a good fit with RJ and under Thibs.
Second deal I also dislike, but just threw it out there cause I know Cavs will link themselves with SG’s. Jazz would end up with something like Sexton LeVert Okoro Bogi Gobert and needing to trade Conley and it’s just not pretty.
Third deal things start getting juicer. Magic have Suggs Spida Wagner Issac and Carter Jr which is tidy. Jazz would have to love a player in the draft and build around him. Ultimately don’t see it happening tho.
Fourth one, the inevitable Zion rumour. Pelicans line up DeVonte Spida Ingram Bogi Big Val which is very nice. Jazz, Conley CJ Gay Zion Gobert plus the 8th pick. Is Donovan worth Zion?? I don’t think so and Zion and Gobert sounds like a terrible duo. Errr idk
Lastly my favourite, Spida for Shai and picks. Rumours I’ve heard from OKC are they love Giddey and want him as their 1 and that leaves Shai at the 2 and together seems like an odd fit. I think Spida and Giddey would be a great backcourt and it’s not like they don’t have the picks to offer. Giddey Spida and the number 2 pick which you hope is Chet. That’s the core of your rebuild done and you still have another 20 picks up your sleeve. As for the Jazz, Shai I think would be a great fit in Utah, I can see him working well with Gobert and Conley. Shai and Clarkson would be a drippy duo off the court.
Not to mention you get the picks.
Getting Zion away from that Louisiana cooking might save his career. :)
Good post. If I’m the Thunder, I’m not making that last deal. No way.
What you guys are forgetting about how the Knicks can get him is very simple. The players get to choose where they go these days. If he makes it clear he only wants to go to the Knicks. Which I understand might still be a long shot, but that’s definitely how they can get him.
A guy with multiple years left on his contract doesn’t have leverage at all, except retiring. Knicks just don’t have what the Jazz want outside of maybe RJ Barrett.
I don’t see Mitchell wanting out unless the Jazz blunder on the new coach signing. They could trade him anyway, but all signs seem to be that they’re going to build around him.
I think any NBA star has leverage these days.
Plus The Knicks do have pieces teams want. Picks, obi, quickley, and the RJ if we had to. RJ and a pick would get it done. The argument is really if the Knicks should trade RJ for Mitchell. Which I’d be torn about. The idea is to get a star in here WITH RJ. So I don’t know. But I’m just disagreeing that the Knicks don’t have the pieces, I think they do.
Why would the thunder not make that deal?
Spida for SGA, this years 12th pick and a future first.
Lock up your core of Giddey Spida and Chet all in long term deals and have them grow together. Still have the 30th and 34th picks in the draft this year, not to mention the other 20 odd picks they have accumulated for the future. They also have young guys like Dort, Puko, Mann, Bazley etc
I’d consider Donovan enough of an upgrade worth giving up a couple first. I’d stretch out and give 3 if that’s what it took
I don’t think Mitchell is really that better than SGA and SGA hasn’t hit his ceiling yet in my opinion. So adding a pick or two on top of that is a total deal breaker. Also, the same argument made for SGA not being a natural fit at SG can be made for Mitchell as well.
That’s why I wouldn’t take that deal if I’m OKC
It’s an interesting situation to be in, for the Jazz. The coach can be the last piece added to a team to bring out the best. Look at this year’s Celtics, Kobe’s Lakers, etc.
However, a coach can be the first thing you start with and you build an identity. A new coach can drastically change how your players view each other. That could mean for either end of the team building spectrum.
Personally, I would prefer a young modern coach with fresh ideas. Otherwise, go with someone chomping at the bit, like one of Snyder’s assistants or from a championship staff.
Kobe’s lakers was never a thing. When he was the sole leader the lakers were garbage. They won with Shaq and then pau gasol in his prime. In fact Kobe was threatening to leave before the gasol trade. Fact is Kobe is completely overrated and a rapist too. The world is a better place without him
Utah has had injuries to key pieces at unfortunate times the last couple of years. They just need to replace Ingles defense/shooting on the wing, figure out what to do with a small ball 5 lineup for certain matchups, preferably someone that can stretch the floor (and actually use that player in those matchups), and stay healthy.
I think most of this break up Utah stuff is all narrative and stuff being thrown out by the media or other teams that want Mitchell, Gobert, or Bogdanovic
I think Dan Craig should be considered for the coaching spot, among others
…I’d also add that even if they were to move Mitchell, I dont think that necessarily totally kills their current team, depending on what they would get
They do need help scoring in the half court though. That might actually be the biggest need
I will say this, the Jazz need more ways to score and more versatility on the defensive end. The playoffs are all about adjustments and being able to get your shot off under pressure.
What coach can help you do this the best?
What players are the best at being versatile?
How can the front office best provide the most variety player pool for our new coach to pull from?
Mitchell and Gobert should both take a look at the role they MAY have played in Snyder choosing to step away. Citing the team needed a “new voice” indicates, or better yet, implies that his voice was no longer reaching those he needed to and that in some ways goes back on the team and their leaders. Where there’s smoke there’s fire. Seems team chemistry is a big issue.
Of course Mitchell is upset, Snyder has always entitled him & allowed him to shoot every ball, such a volume scorer like him wouldn’t do well in good teams, as we can all see UTA ain’t a good team, mostly as he is their star player!
He will get traded to Philly
Philly doesn’t have anything Utah wants except for Maxey and Embiid.