Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell, Myles Turner Ejected After Pacers vs. Jazz Altercation
Nov 12, 2021
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - NOVEMBER 11: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz fights for the ball with Chris Duarte #3 of the Indiana Pacers during a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 11, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
A tussle between Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner led to four players being ejected Thursday evening.
Gobert and Turner got into it underneath the Pacers' basket in the fourth quarter at Vivint Arena.
Joe Ingles and Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz were also ejected. Ingles got in Turner's face and made contact with an official, per Tony Jones of The Athletic.
An animated Mitchell had to be held back by security and officials in the scrum that followed.
Gobert and Myles Turner get into a legit scuffle with no punches thrown. Mitchell is going at someone. Teams separated. This is just frustration from the Jazz…..tough day and night for them as a team
Per Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune, Jazz head coach Quin Snyder also had to be restrained by security during referee Ed Malloy's review.
The television broadcast initially cut away from the first part of the Turner-Gobert fight as the game action moved to the other end, but Rob Perez of Underdog Fantasy and Michael Gallagher of Establish the Run both showed clips of how the fracas unfolded.
Eric Walden of the Salt Lake Tribune provided more insight:
Rudy Gobert and Myles Turner going at it. Pacers bench was incensed that Rudy took Turner down, Turner came up with a shove. Rudy starts a wrestling match. Big scrum ensues.
Indiana ended up winning 111-100 behind Malcolm Brogdon's 30 points.
Donovan Mitchell Ruled Out for Jazz vs. Hawks Because of Ankle Injury
Nov 4, 2021
Utah Jazz Donovan Mitchell drives to the basket during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, Calif., Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. The Jazz 110-101. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas)
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell will miss Thursday's game against the Atlanta Hawks because of a right ankle sprain.
Mitchell rolled his ankle in Tuesday's win over the Sacramento Kings. He went to the locker room with :34 seconds remaining the first half but returned to begin the third quarter and finished with 36 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
A minor ankle injury was an issue for Mitchell during last year's playoffs, but he played in 10 of 11 games as the Jazz advanced to the second round.
Utah, which is tied for the NBA's best record at 6-1, will rely on Mike Conley and potentially move Joe Ingles into the starting lineup with Mitchell out.
Donovan Mitchell, Jazz Beat Nuggets After Nikola Jokic Injured
Oct 27, 2021
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots as Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) defends in the first half during an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The Utah Jazz remain undefeated after a 122-110 win over the Denver Nuggets.
Nikola Jokic was off to a dominant start with 24 points in 15 minutes until suffering a knee contusion that ruled him out of the game. The Nuggets stayed competitive without him, but they couldn't overcome the Jazz depth Tuesday at Vivint Arena.
Utah trailed early in the fourth quarter until a 19-4 run helped the home team take control of the game.
Donovan Mitchell helped close out the victory with clutch plays down the stretch:
Rudy Gobert finished with 23 points and 16 rebound as one of seven Utah players in double figures as the team improved to 3-0 on the year. The squad doesn't appear to be slowing down in 2021-22 after finishing last season with the best record in the NBA.
The Nuggets (2-2) couldn't keep up in the early battle of Western Conference contenders.
Notable Performances
Nikola Jokic, C, DEN: 24 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds
The only thing that slowed him down was a knee injury, which eventually ruled him out of the game. The positive is that he seemed ready to return in the second half before a cautious approach from the coaching staff:
Aaron Gordon still on fire — 19p on 9-10 FGs. Not even Gobert has really been able to slow him down, as he's getting into the midrange now and hitting short fadeaways. Jazz lead 77-76 w/6:37 left 2Q.
Gordon slowed down in the fourth quarter and the Nuggets didn't have enough players to pick up the slack, finishing with just 13 bench points.
If Jokic misses time, however, Gordon will be a key part of keeping the team afloat.
Role Players Thrive in Jazz Win
Rudy Gobert earned his third-straight double-double and Donovan Mitchell reached 20 for the second game in a row, but it wasn't the best performance from either of the team's stars.
Gobert was quiet offensively for much of the game and had just eight field-goal attempts while Mitchell finished 1-of-9 from three-point range.
The Jazz still had plenty of help from the rest of the rotation, including strong games from Jordan Clarkson and Bojan Bogdanovic:
Clarkson outscored the Nuggets' entire bench while finishing plus-19 on the court.
Hassan Whiteside also made his presence felt with 10 points and four rebounds before being ejected in a late-game scuffle.
The Jazz have a lot of weapons for opponents to defend, helping the team succeed even if the stars aren't carrying the offense.
When Mitchell is making his shots, Utah will be extremely difficult to beat.
What's Next?
The Jazz begin a three-game road trip on Thursday with a matchup against the Houston Rockets. The Nuggets are scheduled to host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.
Utah Jazz Confront Elephant in the Room to Keep Stars Long-Term
Oct 26, 2021
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell looks at the scoreboard during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
In today's NBA, front offices draft a superstar like Donovan Mitchell and then spend the next nine years recruiting that player to stick around for a third contract.
Favors are done. Players' friends and family can find themselves in formal roles within an organization. That ongoing recruitment entails far more than adding complementary players on the superstar's timeline.
"The only chance you have to win a championship is to have one of those guys," said a veteran NBA coach. "If you're in a small market, you gotta do everything in your power to keep them—because you only get one every 40 years—without sacrificing your organization's principles."
But in Utah, the Jazz may have to go further, beyond paying the luxury tax to support the league's sixth-highest payroll. It's not just Utah's market size, 22nd in terms of television reach. Players and coaches are quick to rank Salt Lake City among their least preferred road destinations. That does no favors, of course, in free agency. Lest we forget LeBron James' subtle jab during last season's All-Star draft.
Salt Lake City is not only the smallest NBA market by population but one that is made up of an overwhelmingly white demographic. According to 2019 census data, 72.84 percent of Salt Lake City is white, compared to only 2.61 percent of its population being Black or African American.
For a league in which its players are predominantly Black, Salt Lake City's lack of diversity has always posed a specific challenge for Jazz executives. Utah personnel discuss the dynamic quite openly. New owner Ryan Smith and his basketball operations team now seem to be making efforts to help their 25-year-old elite playmaker in Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and other Jazz players feel more at home in the city.
Mitchell has communicated to Jazz officials his own determined commitment to uplift Black men with equal employment opportunities. Mitchell's head of security, Frank Darnold, is African American. The Jazz, in turn, bolstered Quin Snyder's staff with Irv Roland, a noted skills trainer and former Rockets assistant coach. They expanded their front office with several new hires and promoted Marquis Newman to director of pro personnel. General manager Justin Zanik is credited with bringing aboard former Nike executive Chuck Terrell as senior director of basketball intelligence and noted draft evaluator Luca Desta as vice president of global scouting—all of whom are Black.
Smith's biggest swing was bringing former Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade into Utah's ownership group. Wade, one of Mitchell's closest mentors, brings the organization a level of leaguewide credibility in its courtside seats and into its boardrooms.
One source with knowledge of the situation maintained Mitchell had no involvement in Wade purchasing a stake in the team. In any case, it's a move many league observers have viewed as a direct attempt by Smith to appease Mitchell, who first formed a strong connection with Wade through their representation at Creative Artists Agency.
"It's a little bit of new-owner syndrome, too," said an assistant general manager. "You come in, and you're immediately told, 'The star player, you want them to like you.'"
Wade has already proved to be a valuable voice in Mitchell's ear and would have been a trusted mentor regardless of his official involvement with Utah. He scoured Jazz film during the first round of the 2019 playoffs and texted Mitchell a long message full of feedback ahead of a Game 4 victory that kept Utah's chances alive.
Star-driven personnel moves happen across the league frequently. Thanasis Antetokounmpo will likely play for the Bucks as long as Giannis does. Portland is rostering 6'4" wing Keljin Blevins, cousin of Trail Blazers All-Star Damian Lillard, on a two-way contract for the second straight season. The Charlotte Hornets brought LiAngelo Ball to Summer League, training camp and now the franchise's G League outfit in Greensboro. Even in glitzier markets, like Brooklyn, major decisions are rarely finalized without consulting a team's marquee player. "If I had Kevin Durant," added the veteran coach, "I'd do whatever the f--k he says, too."
League observers have noted how Utah joined that long list. Wade is considered to wield strong influence alongside Smith in the Jazz decision tree. During the 2021 NBA draft, Utah sent a protected second-round pick to the Golden State Warriors to acquire swingman Eric Paschall, who once lived down the street from Mitchell in New York's Westchester County.
There does not appear to be any connection between Mitchell's interests and the ouster of former president Dennis Lindsey. That decision stemmed largely, sources confirmed to B/R, from a rift between the executive and Snyder in which Smith sided with his head coach. Jazz staffers point specifically to Lindsey selecting Udoka Azubuike in the first round of the 2020 draft, as well as other draft additions that failed to make an NBA impact as a main stimulant in the turmoil between the president and Snyder.
Utah's decision this offseason that raised the most eyebrows around the league came in September when Utah parted ways with its vice president of performance health care Mike Elliott. Injuries hampered the Jazz's postseason stretch last season, with Mike Conley missing the majority of the team's second-round loss to the Clippers with a hamstring injury. It became well known in league circles how Mitchell was notably frustrated when Utah's medical staff urged to keep him sidelined for Game 1 of the Jazz's first round matchup vs. the Memphis Grizzlies, which resulted in a loss.
Utah announced in a statement that Elliott "decided to pursue other opportunities," yet the context appears quite clear.
Zanik denied to reporters Elliott's departure was related to any friction with Mitchell. "With the training staff, there wasn't any impetus to change it because of any events last year," the general manager said. "Look, injuries happen. With return to play, there's always, you know, a bit of a debate and negotiation between players and doctors and health performance people. That has nothing to do with it."
But if it did, if it even came at the specific behest of Mitchell, few rival executives would fault the Jazz for hiring a new athletic trainer to treat Mitchell this season. "That's the way of the NBA," said one Western Conference player personnel executive. "Every team has s--t that they gotta do, or that they do, to cater to their players."
Especially when other teams are stacking their deck to make an earnest pursuit for your star.
There's a player option in the fifth year of Mitchell's $163 million contract, which still wouldn't let the All-Star reach free agency until 2025 at the earliest. And despite the superstar trade request seemingly more en vogue than ever, the Jazz appear to be doing just fine building around Mitchell in Utah. Around the NBA, he's known as a team-oriented and affable leader, believing this group can compete for a championship. Utah did finish top-five in both offensive and defensive efficiency last season.
As other teams like the Nets spent training camp in destinations like San Diego, Mitchell was vocal about the Jazz conducting training camp out of market, sources said, which led to Utah holding workouts in Las Vegas. The Jazz bunkered down in the Wynn hotel, creating an environment Snyder's coaching staff valued, similar to the Orlando bubble experience.
The Jazz even recreated the bubble's side-by-side practice courts in a cavernous convention room, and players and staffers spoke of feeling fresher without having to ride a team bus or drive into the facility. Each morning players hung out in a private breakfast lounge, and any Jazz member could freely hit the pool during downtime.
Whether that heightened camaraderie can be a secret ingredient in the Western Conference playoff picture remains to be seen. Then we'll have the final piece to solidify Mitchell and Utah's puzzle.
Jake Fischer covers the NBA for Bleacher Report and is theauthorof Built to Lose: How the NBA's Tanking Era Changed the League Forever.
Report: Zaire Wade, Son of Dwyane, to Sign G League Contract, Join Jazz Affiliate
Oct 12, 2021
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 30: Former NBA player Dwyane Wade and his son Zaire Wade spend time on the court after the game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Las Vegas Aces at Los Angeles Convention Center on June 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Zaire Wade, the son of Dwyane Wade, has reportedly signed a G League contract and is expected to play for the Salt Lake City Stars, the affiliate of the Utah Jazz.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported the deal. Dwyane Wade is a part-owner of the Jazz.
Zaire Wade played high school basketball at Sierra Canyon in Califonia and was a 3-star recruit, according to 247 Sports rankings. The combo guard had scholarship offers from Rhode Island, Toledo and South Carolina but is taking the pro route.
While Zaire would seemingly have few pro prospects based on his high school career, the same was said about his father before he attended Marquette and blossomed into a superstar. It's possible the new environment will allow Zaire to thrive and eventually reach his NBA dreams.
Dwyane Wade bought into the Jazz as a part-owner in April and was a fixture at Jazz games late in the 2020-21 campaign.
Donovan Mitchell Honors Aaron Lowe and Ty Jordan with No. 22 Jersey at Jazz Practice
Oct 2, 2021
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 18: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz dribbles the ball during the game against the LA Clippers during Round 2, Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on June 18, 2021 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell paid homage to deceased Utah football players Aaron Lowe and Ty Jordan on Saturday.
Mitchell wore a No. 22 Jazz jersey during the team's practice.
"I just wanted to pay my respects to Aaron and Ty in my own way. ... I'm not changing my number or anything," Mitchell told reporters.
Donovan Mitchell is wearing No. 22 — an apparent homage to Utah football player Aaron Lowe — at the Utah Jazz's practice this afternoon.
Lowe and Jordan both wore No. 22 while playing football for the Utes.
Jordan died at the age of 19 on Dec. 25. Allison Beckwith, spokeswoman for the Denton Police Department, told the Associated Press on Dec. 26 that Jordan accidentally shot himself in the hip. Per the AP, Jordan's cause of death was listed as a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Lowe was killed Sunday when he was shot at a house party in Salt Lake City. Police chief Mike Brown said in a statement that detectives were trying to identify a suspect or suspects in the case.
Jordan was named the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2020. He appeared in all five games last season.
Lowe was in his third year with the Utes. He played in each of the team's first four games in 2021.
Prior to playing together at Utah, Lowe and Jordan were teammates at West Mesquite High School in Texas. Lowe switched his jersey number from 2 to 22 this season to honor Jordan's memory. ..
Video: TV Reporter Unknowingly Interviews Jazz Guard Jordan Clarkson on Street
Sep 24, 2021
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 18: Jordan Clarkson #00 of the Utah Jazz warms up prior to the game against the LA Clippers during Round 2, Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on June 18, 2021 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images)
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson can apparently walk around Salt Lake City at times in a state of anonymity.
Hayley Crombleholme of KUTV was making the rounds in the city looking for people to interview when she happened upon the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year:
This isn't the first time a prominent NBA player has been interviewed on camera with a local news outlet that apparently had no idea who he was at first.
Klay Thompson had one of the iconic moments in local news of the 21st century when he appeared on Fox 5 New York to discuss scaffolding:
To Clarkson's credit, he did seem to have a good sense of humor about the situation:
In Crombleholme's defense, Clarkson hasn't been with the Jazz for his entire career. He was traded to Utah in December 2019 by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The 29-year-old has appeared in 110 games with the Jazz over the past two seasons. He became the first player in franchise history to win the Sixth Man of the Year Award after averaging a career-high 18.4 points per game during the 2020-21 season.
Donovan Mitchell on Jazz's NBA Championship Hopes: 'This Is Our Time Right Here'
Sep 13, 2021
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 18: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the LA Clippers during Round 2, Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on June 18, 2021 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Utah Jazz lost to the Los Angeles Clippers in six games in the Western Conference Semifinals this past season, an especially disappointing result considering the team was up 2-0 to start the series and was the top overall seed in the West.
But star guard Donovan Mitchell believes the team's time to win an NBA championship is now, as he told The Athletic's Sam Amick:
... Now it's like, 'What do you take from this?' Well, it's a similar situation, and understanding that this is a time—this is our time right here. We can get it done, and we've got to go out there and continue to work, and I think we need to come back with a little bit of a fire in us and understanding that there were times last year where we for…—I wouldn't say we forgot; we allowed teams to feel comfortable, and then you get to that space where it's a five-point lead, five-point lead, and then next thing you know they hit three shots and they're up one. ... This year, it's like, 'No, keep the foot on the gas. Full 48. Finish the game, finish the series, close it out and let's get ready for what's next.' And ultimately, we won’t be as happy until we win a chip.
As for the ankle injury that cost him the last 16 games of the regular season and the first game of the postseason, Mitchell said he's recovering nicely.
"The ankle feels good. I'll be ready to go," he said. "I think last year definitely was shaky. There were just so many different obstacles with the ankle and whatnot, but—like I said—no slight to Phoenix or Milwaukee or the Clippers, you know, [but] I feel like if we were healthy, you know, we, we get to the Finals. I feel like we [would] win, but you know it's all easy when you say ifs, ands or buts. It's easy to say that."
The hard part is proving it. The Jazz certainly looked the part of a title contender during the regular season, racing out to a 52-20 mark, the best in the NBA.
And in an offseason that saw a number of contenders deal with major injuries—Anthony Davis missed time for the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray missed the entire postseason, Chris Paul battled through injuries and Kawhi Leonard missed the final two games of the series vs. the Jazz—the door appeared to be wide open for Utah run.
Failing to beat the Clippers lent further credence to the idea that the Jazz might be an excellent regular season team but aren't built to win in the postseason. It was a critique that was leveled at the Milwaukee Bucks in the past as well, at least until they won a title last year.
Certainly, the small lineups the Clippers trotted out exposed Utah's lack of solid perimeter defenders, as the Jazz put Rudy Gobert in the pick-and-roll and pulled him away from the basket, neutralizing his defensive impact.
It will be up to Mitchell, Gobert, Mike Conley and the rest of the Jazz to address those issues and discredit the idea they're simply a regular season team. Mitchell sounds very motivated to do just that.
Jazz 2021-22 Schedule: Top Games, Championship Odds and Record Predictions
Aug 20, 2021
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, left, puts his arm around forward Bojan Bogdanovic in the closing minutes of the second half in Game 6 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series Friday, June 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The 2020-21 postseason set up nicely for the Utah Jazz. They were the top overall seed, and injuries to stars around the Western Conference had weakened some of the top contenders. There was a real window for them.
But that came crashing down in the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite going up 2-0 in the series, despite superstar Kawhi Leonard missing Games 5 and 6 and despite holding a 25-point lead in the third quarter of Game 6, the Jazz watched the Clippers win four straight times against them, ending their season.
Not that the Jazz didn't have their own adversity in the postseason, namely Mike Conley missing five of the six games against the Clippers. But failing to get out of the second round was nonetheless a major disappointment for the Jazz.
With largely the same team back this season, though, Utah should be among the contenders yet again in the Western Conference.
Let's take a look at the schedule they'll face while they attempt to improve upon last season.
You know the Jazz want some revenge. Even if it's only the regular season. And even if they publicly underplay these games.
The Clippers will likely be without Leonard for these matchups, as he recovers from a torn ACL. Even more reason for the Jazz to get the better of their Western Conference rivals and to not let role players like Terance Mann and Reggie Jackson torch them.
Consider these games a litmus test for whether the Jazz are improved from last season. Beating the Clippers won't erase the disappointment of last season, but Utah fans would enjoy it nonetheless.
Matchups against the Suns will give the Jazz the opportunity to see how they measure up against the Western Conference champions from a year ago.
For much of last season, these two teams battled for the No. 1 seed in the West, with the Jazz claiming top billing by one game. But the Suns swept the season series, 3-0. Had the two teams finished even at the end of the regular season, it would have been the Suns with the top overall seed.
It was a moot point come the postseason, with the Jazz being eliminated in the second round. But homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs is no small deal, and it's very possible that games between these two teams could be the deciding factor in that race. Expect these to be tight matchups.
Season Forecast
There's no doubt the Jazz are a good regular-season team. They went 52-20 last year, after all. But it's fair to question whether some of the other teams around the NBA might catch up a little.
The 2020-21 season was a strange one, with a late start and a condensed schedule that seemed to contribute to a lot of injuries. The Jazz weren't immune, with Donovan Mitchell missing 19 games and Conley missing 21. An intriguing thing to watch will be if some contenders make it through the regular season more unscathed now that the more traditional schedule is back in place.
The Jazz didn't make any major changes, with the core intact after Conley was re-signed. Additions like Rudy Gay, Eric Paschall, Hassan Whiteside and Jared Butler should help with depth, but this is a team that is largely running it back. There are still major questions about their ability to defend on the perimeter, a weakness that the Clippers exposed in a major way.
But that may not rear its head until the postseason, where teams are more apt to play smaller against them and force Rudy Gobert to defend on the perimeter, limiting his effectiveness as a rim-protector. The Jazz will have chances before the trade deadline to potentially address that need.
Expect Utah to be in the running for the top seed again next season. Whether they have the roster in place to win a title is another question entirely.
Record Prediction: 55-27
Must be 21+ and present in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, West Virginia, Colorado, or Tennessee. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. See sportsbook.fanduel.com for details.
Warriors Rumors: Eric Paschall Traded to Jazz for Protected 2nd-Round Draft Pick
Aug 4, 2021
Golden State Warriors forward Eric Paschall (7) dribbles during an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers Thursday, March 11, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Utah Jazz are fortifying their bench by reportedly acquiring Eric Paschall from the Golden State Warriors.
Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Jazz will send a protected second-round draft pick to the Warriors in exchange for Paschall.
Anthony Slater of The Athletic added that the Warriors' will receive a top-42-protected pick in the 2026 NBA draft in the trade.
Utah already took care of its biggest question in free agency by agreeing to a three-year, $68 million extension with Mike Conley Jr., per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
The Jazz are also poised to add Rudy Gay for some backcourt scoring off the bench. Gay's agent, Raymond Brothers, told Wojnarowski that his client will sign a two-year, $12 million contract with Utah.
To fit Conley's salary into the 2021-22 cap, the Jazz did free up space by agreeing to trade veteran center Derrick Favors and a future first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a future second-round pick, per Wojnarowski.
Slater noted that Paschall had been hoping to team up with Donovan Mitchell. They grew up together in Westchester County in New York and played on travel teams before going to college and the NBA.
The Warriors selected Paschall with the No. 41 pick in the 2019 NBA draft. He spent four years in college, including three at Villanova from 2016 to '19. He won a national title with the Wildcats as a junior in 2018.
Paschall was a solid role player in two seasons with Golden State. The 24-year-old averaged 12.2 points and 4.0 rebounds with a 49.7 field-goal percentage in 100 appearances for the Warriors.
