Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz are interviewing Philadelphia 76ers assistant Sam Cassell as part of their coaching search, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania and Tony Jones.

Cassell spent 15 seasons in the NBA as a player, winning three titles and making the All-Star team in 2003-04. He entered the NBA coaching ranks in 2009 and worked with the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers before following Doc Rivers to Philadelphia in 2020.

The 52-year-old interviewed with the Wizards last summer when they were looking for a new coach. In 2020, he got an interview with the Clippers and was on the radar of the Houston Rockets.

Given his resume as a player and coach, it's somewhat surprising Cassell hasn't landed a head coaching gig to this point.

Doc Rivers this week: “Sam Cassell should be a head coach, period. He’s got an incredibly high basketball IQ, and I just hope he gets a shot. ... When they talk about paying dues, he’s paid every due that is possible and he’s yet to get a job. So, I’m hoping that happens.”

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) September 13, 2020

Sam Cassell has been deserving of a Head Coaching job for several years now

Would be heartbreaking to see him leave the Sixers but the guy has more than earned it https://t.co/Ad9hnoWGKR

— Sean Barnard (@Sean_Barnard1) June 15, 2022

The Jazz entered the NBA coaching carousel at a somewhat late juncture with Quin Snyder stepping down on June 5, more than a month after the team had lost in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Still, CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge indicated the team would be very deliberate in identifying Snyder's replacement.

"It’s rare, but it’s good," Ainge told Jazz play-by-play announcer David Locke. "I think we’re in really good shape right now, so we can take our time and make sure we get this right."

Utah is also casting a wide net in terms of its candidates. Terry Stotts and Frank Vogel, both of whom are former head coaches, have drawn interest, as have a number of high-level assistants across the league.

Cassell will have to break through a crowded field if the Jazz are to be his first shot at being an NBA head coach.

Will health and a coaching change be enough for the Los Angeles Lakers to rebound from a disastrous season? We may find out soon enough as sources close to the team, along with several competing executives, believe the Lakers are operating as if Russell Westbrook will be on the roster to start next season.

If the Lakers intend to trade Westbrook, assuming he opts into his final year at $47.1 million, it's the front office that will need to sacrifice. Several executives believe the Lakers would need to take on expensive players ($15-25 million range) with two to four years left on their contract—not specifically, but players with contracts like Davis Bertans, Duncan Robinson, Julius Randle, Malcolm Brogdon, etc.—or send out one or two first-round picks, especially for quality rotation players in return.

New head coach Darvin Ham recently praised Westbrook while also demanding the veteran point guard, along with the rest of the roster, be ready to sacrifice for the greater good next season. But what about LeBron James?

The Lakers were paralyzed at the trade deadline without clarity from James, and they remain so. The star forward is eligible for an extension on August 4, but most of the team's moves will need to happen in June and July.

The Lakers are stuck without a commitment from James, whose contract expires after the 2022-23 season. Competing executives and agents do not expect the team to get clarity from James ahead of the draft and free agency.

James could help make decisions easier if he verbally commits to an additional two seasons, timing his contract with Anthony Davis through 2024-25 (although Davis has an early termination option to leave one year sooner). Unpleasant salary is easier to digest in trade if the Lakers are reinvested in James with Davis. The last thing the team would want to do is eat up its 2023-24 cap space on players it doesn't value with James leaving as an unrestricted free agent.

The fear is similar in trading draft picks. If James were guaranteed to stick around another couple of seasons, L.A. might consider bigger moves like trading picks to get out of Westbrook for viable talent.

The Lakers will only have a $6.4 million taxpayer mid-level exception and minimum contracts to spend to add talent if they retain Westbrook. That may not be enough to bring back Malik Monk with several other teams armed with at least the $10.3 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception (NTMLE). Some alternate targets could be Otto Porter Jr., Joe Ingles, Gary Payton II, Bruce Brown Jr., Damian Jones, Isaiah Hartenstein, Thomas Bryant, Taurean Prince, Gorgui Dieng, Lonnie Walker IV, Gary Harris, Austin Rivers or Aaron Holiday (among many others).

Do any of those names catapult the Lakers back to contention? James can empower the franchise to make bolder moves with a commitment. Without it, the franchise may be overwhelmed by the inertia of uncertainty.

Lottery Picks Available

The 2022 NBA draft should bring solid talent into the league, but not nearly as much as the 2021 class. At least that's the buzz around the league, which described a gap after the first two or three prospects. Most expect the Orlando Magic to take Jabari Smith Jr. from Auburn and the Oklahoma City Thunder to select Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren second.

Some executives argue that Duke's Paolo Banchero is the clear third, destined for the Houston Rockets. Others suggest Jaden Ivey or Keegan Murray belong in the top three, with Banchero dropping. But the general vibe is that several lottery picks could be available in trade, starting with the Sacramento Kings at No. 4.

Teams looking to make the playoffs may want to upgrade their rosters with veteran players instead of prospects. Or they might try to trade up for more of a sure thing (if there is such a thing in the draft) like Ivey or Murray. That may include teams like the Portland Trail Blazers (No. 7), New Orleans Pelicans (No. 8), Washington Wizards (No. 10), New York Knicks (No. 11), Charlotte Hornets (No. 13) and Cleveland Cavaliers (No. 14). Even the Thunder, who have three first-round picks, may be open to moving No. 12.

More than half of the 14 lottery picks may be attainable, and interested teams are trying to determine where they can strike. Who will move up, down or out may not be apparent until draft day.

Some veteran trade targets might include Jerami Grant, Deandre Ayton (sign-and-trade), Rudy Gobert, Jalen Brunson (sign-and-trade) and Myles Turner. Since teams cannot agree to a sign-and-trade in June, a few may draft on faith that their trade target will be available in July, especially if faith equates to an illegal prearranged deal.

Bigs on the Move?

One of the hottest topics heading into the offseason is Ayton's fate with the Phoenix Suns. The franchise didn't issue him an extension before the season, and after their recent playoff flameout, there's considerable skepticism that the team will re-sign him. Instead, the restricted free agent may need to solicit an offer sheet or navigate a sign-and-trade. If so, Ayton is expected to seek a maximum contract that could reach $131.2 million over four seasons.

The Utah Jazz were also ousted earlier than they had hoped, leading to the resignation of coach Quin Snyder. Many competing executives and agents believe the franchise will look to move Gobert, who has four years and $169.7 million left on his contract.

The Orlando Magic have a young 7-footer hitting restricted free agency in Mo Bamba, whose market value may be closer to the $10.3 million NTMLE. The Magic may look to retain him, especially if the franchise drafts Smith at No. 1. If Orlando chooses Holmgren, Bamba could become available via sign-and-trade or even as an unrestricted free agent.

Teams seeking a starting center may include the Toronto Raptors, Pistons, Trail Blazers and Hornets. Some sources believe the San Antonio Spurs (Jakob Poeltl), Chicago Bulls (Nikola Vucevic), Hawks (Clint Capela, John Collins), Pacers (Turner) or even Kings (Richaun Holmes, Harrison Barnes) could look to swap out existing players for one of the top available centers via trade.

Would the Bulls offer Coby White, Marko Simonovic and Vucevic for Gobert? Would Sacramento try to pair Domantas Sabonis with Gobert with an offer of Holmes, Barnes and No. 4? Do the Phoenix Suns target Capela or Collins in an Ayton sign-and-trade? It's too early to guess how teams ultimately reshuffle, but now is the time to run scenarios and feel other teams out as the draft nears with free agency beginning a week later.

Another big who could be on the move is Steven Adams of the Memphis Grizzlies, although he's extremely well-liked in the locker room.

Elsewhere...

Additional buzz heading into the draft and free agency:

• The Thunder may be the first domino with up to $31.8 million in cap space. The team is open to taking on unwanted salary for draft compensation before its room disappears on July 1 when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's extension kicks in.
• The Knicks looking to hire Rick Brunson, per Ian Begley of SNY, isn't a coincidence. His son, Dallas Mavericks free-agent Jalen Brunson, may be next. While New York won't have the cap room, multiple sources believe Dallas may blink at Brunson's asking price, compelled to sign and trade him to the Knicks.
• Competing teams are very curious how the Brooklyn Nets deal with Kyrie Irving, the Philadelphia 76ers with James Harden and the Washington Wizards with Bradley Beal. All three have player options but could opt out and re-sign or walk outright as free agents.
• The Suns are apparently hoping Dario Saric returns to form after a knee injury and may not be looking to dump his $9.2 million remaining in trade.
• The Hawks may waive Danilo Gallinari, whose $21.5 million contract is only $5 million guaranteed. Similarly, the Trail Blazers may cut Eric Bledsoe's $19.4 million with a $3.9 million guarantee. Either could end up in a trade, though the returns for Atlanta and Portland would be based on the guaranteed portion, not the full salaries.
• After hiring Kenny Atkinson, the Hornets may hold onto Gordon Hayward. Several sources believe the Pacers will keep Turner. Pencil in Chris Boucher to return to the Raptors.
• The Cavaliers may look to restock their backcourt with a healthy Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio, who they traded to the Pacers at the deadline.
• The Pistons are expected to retain Marvin Bagley III. The team may make a run at a restricted free agent like Miles Bridges or Ayton, either by offer sheet or sign-and-trade.
• Many believe D'Angelo Russell is available out of Minnesota.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, @EricPincus.

Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic reportedly expects to remain with the team despite a series of rumors linking Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert with a potential move to the Windy City.

K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago provided an update on the Gobert speculation Friday on the Bulls Talk Podcast (via Elias Schuster of Bleacher Nation):

I, personally, have not put a lot of stock into these rumors. ... There is a lot of noise out there. It's certainly fair to speculate what the Jazz might do. Before, I personally made a couple of calls on the topic, and I was told that there's not much going on right now. Things can obviously change in this league—always change in this league. I can also tell you, from my understanding, Nikola Vucevic is under the impression he's going to be here.

Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer reported Monday the Bulls are a "team with interest" if the Jazz decide move on from Gobert following the departure of head coach Quin Snyder.

Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer added further details Tuesday, noting league sources indicated a baseline package of Vucevic and Patrick Williams for Gobert was a possibility, though it's unclear whether if Chicago is willing to part with Williams.

The Bulls enjoyed a turnaround season in 2021-22, compiling a 46-36 record to snap a four-year playoff drought. They struggled defensively, however, ranking tied for 23rd in defensive efficiency during the regular season.

So securing an upgrade in the post from Vucevic to Gobert, a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, is an attractive option on paper.

Several variables are in play, though. Most notably, the Jazz have yet to signal they're ready to break up their core duo of Gobert and Donovan Mitchell despite a first-round playoff exit that continued a recent trend of strong regular-season results followed by a postseason dud.

Utah general manager Justin Zanik was noncommittal about the team's offseason plans after Snyder stepped down on Sunday.

"Donovan and Rudy, along with some of our other players, are hugely important to the success of this organization," Zanik told reporters.

Meanwhile, the Bulls would have to decide whether the improvement from Vucevic (No. 117 in FiveThirtyEight's NBA WAR ranking) to Gobert (No. 8) is enough to warrant giving up on Williams, the fourth overall pick in the 2020 draft.

Williams has yet to emerge as the type of high-end contributor a team expects from a top-five selection, averaging 9.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 88 games, but he was limited to just 17 appearances in 2021-22 because of a wrist injury.

The 20-year-old Florida State product showed some promise in the limited action this season, shooting 52.9 percent from the field, including 51.7 percent on threes.

Trading Williams at this stage of his career would come with risk, but Chicago will face plenty of competition on the trade market if Gobert becomes available, so it's going to take valuable assets to complete a deal one way or another.

Detroit Pistons assistant coach Jerome Allen is reportedly scheduled to interview for the Utah Jazz's head coach vacancy.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pistons granted Allen permission to interview, and the first round of interviews are set to take place on Zoom in the coming days.

Utah is in search of a new head coach in the wake of Quin Snyder resigning this week after eight seasons at the helm for the Jazz.

Upon stepping down, Snyder expressed his belief that the Jazz players need a "new voice to continue to evolve," per ESPN.

While Snyder led the Jazz to six consecutive playoff appearances, they never made it out of the second round during that time. That included a first-round exit at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks this season.

Allen, who was a second-round draft pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1995 out of the University of Pennsylvania, spent two seasons in the NBA as a player with the T-Wolves, Indiana Pacers and Denver Nuggets.

He also played professionally overseas before breaking into coaching with one of his first jobs being as an assistant at his alma mater from 2009 to 2015.

Allen then served as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics from 2015 to 2021 before spending this season with the Pistons.

ESPN's Tim MacMahon and Wojnarowski reported that the Jazz have also received permission to interview New York Knicks assistant Johnnie Bryant, Milwaukee Bucks assistant Charles Lee and Celtics assistants Will Hardy and Joe Mazzulla.

Utah will reportedly interview in-house candidate Alex Jensen and former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts as well.

While there are some question marks regarding whether the Jazz will keep their roster together or seek a blockbuster trade, the Utah job is currently appealing thanks largely to the presence of All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.

The Utah Jazz requested permission to interview Dallas Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney as part of their head coaching search, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Sweeney joined Jason Kidd's staff ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season. Prior to that, he had spells with the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons.

Sweeney already interviewed with the Charlotte Hornets in May, but he failed to make the reported list of finalists.

The Jazz were a late entrant into the NBA coaching carousel, with Quin Snyder stepping down on June 5. His resignation wasn't totally unexpected following Utah's first-round playoff exit, but it was surprising all the same.

The Jazz made the playoffs in each of Snyder's last six seasons and had a .585 winning percentage with him at the helm. As much as the franchise seemed to peak with Snyder, there's always a level of risk by making a coaching change.

Wojnarowski and ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported Tuesday that the Jazz received permission to interview New York Knicks associate head coach Johnnie Bryant, Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Charles Lee and Boston Celtics assistant coaches Will Hardy and Joe Mazzulla.

Per Wojnarowski and MacMahon, Jazz assistant Alex Jensen and former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts will also receive interviews.

Wojnarowski added more names to the mix Wednesday:

Two more candidates expected to interview for Utah’s coaching job, sources tell ESPN: Frank Vogel and Jazz assistant Lamar Skeeter. https://t.co/1zQX8Trhq3

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 8, 2022

Utah has requested permission to interview two more assistant coaches -- Toronto's Adrian Griffin and Phoenix's Kevin Young, sources tells ESPN. https://t.co/0mc1YWH7bl

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 8, 2022

No team ever wants to swing and miss in a coaching search, but the stakes are especially high for the Jazz.

Snyder's replacement will at the very least be expected to maintain the level he helped build in Salt Lake City. And the team's success—or lack thereof—could have implications for Donovan Mitchell's future.

Wojnarowski reported on June 5 that Mitchell was "surprised and disappointed" by Snyder's departure. Sources told Wojnarowski that the three-time All-Star was "unsettled, unnerved and wondering what it means for the franchise's future."

Mitchell is signed for at least three more years, but Snyder's departure might have planted the seeds for an exit from Utah earlier than that.

Hiring the right coach could help to assuage any concerns Mitchell might have about the direction of the organization.

Add Frank Vogel to the list of candidates who will be interviewed by the Utah Jazz for their vacant head coaching position.

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the former Los Angeles Lakers coach and Jazz assistant Lamar Skeeter will meet with Utah about replacing Quin Snyder.

Wojnarowski later reported that Miami's Chris Quinn, Toronto's Adrian Griffin and Phoenix's Kevin Young will also meet with the Jazz.

Wojnarowski reported Tuesday that the Jazz received permission to interview assistant coaches Johnnie Bryant (New York Knicks) and Charles Lee (Milwaukee Bucks), along with Boston Celtics assistants Will Hardy and Joe Mazzulla.

Former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts will also speak with the Jazz, per Wojnarowski, as well as Utah assistant Alex Jensen.

Jazz governor Ryan Smith told reporters Monday, "We're going to take our time" in finding a new head coach.

Snyder announced Sunday he was stepping down as Jazz head coach after eight seasons.

"I strongly feel they need a new voice to continue to evolve," Snyder said in a statement. "That's it. No philosophical differences, no other reason. After eight years, I just feel it is time to move onward. I needed to take time to detach after the season and make sure this was the right decision."

Snyder went 372-264 with six playoff appearances in Utah. The team never advanced past the second round of the postseason and suffered three first-round losses in the last four seasons.

The Lakers fired Vogel on April 11 after the team missed the playoffs with a 33-49 record. The 48-year-old went 127-98 with an NBA championship in 2019-20 over three seasons in Los Angeles.

Prior to working for the Lakers, Vogel served as head coach for the Indiana Pacers (2010-16) and Orlando Magic (2016-18). He has a 431-389 career record in 11 seasons as an NBA head coach.

Skeeter has been with the Jazz since 2014. He spent his first two years in player development before being promoted to an assistant coach in 2016.

The Jazz won the Northwest Division in each of the past two seasons. They were the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference in 2020-21 with a 52-20 record.

As the Utah Jazz figure out their direction going forward, Mike Conley could be an attractive trade chip this offseason.

On The Hoop Collective podcast on Wednesday (starts at 64-minute mark), ESPN's Brian Windhorst noted Conley will receive trade interest from other teams if the Jazz want to make a move.

The Jazz have undergone significant changes over the past 12 months.

Dennis Lindsey resigned his position as executive vice president of basketball operations in June 2021. He spent nine seasons in the front office, starting as general manager in the 2012-13 season.

Per Andy Larsen and Eric Walden of the Salt Lake Tribune, Lindsey's decision to step down was "more of an ownership decision than Lindsey’s personal one" because Ryan Smith wanted "to put his stamp on his organization as a new owner."

Larsen and Walden noted there was a "long-running disconnect" between Lindsey and head coach Quin Snyder.

Danny Ainge was hired as CEO and alternate governor by the Jazz in December. He is overseeing all basketball decisions for the organization.

The Jazz are also trying to find a new head coach after Snyder announced Sunday he was stepping down after eight seasons.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Jazz star Donovan Mitchell was "unsettled, unnerved and wondering what it means for the franchise's future" amid Snyder's decision to leave the organization.

There are no indications at this point that Mitchell is seeking a trade. Per Tony Jones of The Athletic on Monday, the Jazz have "made it clear they intend on building a roster around Mitchell" and don't intend to trade him.

Conley is arguably the Jazz's most attractive trade chip besides Mitchell. The 34-year-old is owed $22.68 million next season and a partial guarantee of $14.32 million in 2023-24.

In 72 games last season, Conley averaged 13.7 points and 5.3 assists per contest. He shot 40.8 percent from three-point range.

Despite their recent success, including six consecutive playoff appearances, the Jazz have struggled in the postseason. They have lost in the first round three times in the past four seasons.

The Jazz were eliminated in six games by the Dallas Mavericks this season despite their opponents playing the first three games of the series without Luka Doncic because of a strained calf.

The Utah Jazz head coaching search appears to have officially begun.

The Jazz have received permission to interview New York Knicks assistant Johnnie Bryant, Boston Celtics assistants Will Hardy and Joe Mazzulla and Milwaukee Bucks assistant Charles Lee, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Utah will also interview current assistant Alex Jensen and former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts, Wojnarowski added.

Bryant has no head coaching experience but has served as New York's associate head coach since 2020. Utah's interest in him comes as little surprise as he served as an assistant for the Jazz from 2014 to '20.

The 36-year-old built relationships with many current Jazz players during his time with the franchise, including Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Wojnarowski previously reported Mitchell was "unsettled, unnerved and wondering what it means for the franchise's future" following the departure of Quin Snyder.

Bryant "is a known favorite" of Mitchell, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. Perhaps bringing him in could entice the veteran guard to remain in Utah.

Utah's interest in both Celtics assistants—Hardy and Mazzulla—also isn't surprising as Danny Ainge is now the team's CEO after serving as Boston's executive director of basketball operations from 2003 to '21.

That said, Hardy joined the Celtics coaching staff this past season, teaming up with Ime Udoka. Mazzulla has served as an assistant for the Celtics since 2019 and previously served as an assistant for the team's G League affiliate in 2016-17.

Lee, meanwhile, has also never served as a head coach and has been an assistant for the Bucks since 2018. He was also an assistant for the Atlanta Hawks from 2014 to '18.

As for Stotts, he has 13 years of head coaching experience with the Trail Blazers, Bucks and Hawks. However, his teams have struggled to make deep playoff runs, having advanced past the second round just once.

Snyder stepped down as head coach of the Jazz on Sunday after eight seasons. He went 372-264 and led the team to the playoffs in each of the last six seasons. Ainge told reporters after it was announced that the franchise "desperately wanted him to stay."

Donovan Mitchell isn't the only reason Johnnie Bryant is expected to be a candidate for the Utah Jazz's head coaching vacancy.

Ian Begley of SNY.tv reported Bryant "has support within the organization beyond Mitchell." The report did not disclose Bryant's other champions, but he's known for the development of strong relationships with players during his time as a Knicks assistant.

Bryant and Terry Stotts are considered the two favorites for the position, which became vacant when Quin Snyder announced his resignation over the weekend.

Stotts has 13 years of NBA head coaching experience with the Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers but has consistently struggled to make deep runs in the playoffs; he's gotten past the second round just once.

Bryant has no head coaching experience but spent seven seasons on the Jazz bench forging relationships with players currently on the roster, most notably Mitchell.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Mitchell is "unsettled, unnerved and wondering what it means for the franchise's future" after Snyder's resignation. The All-Star guard and Snyder built a close relationship, and Mitchell re-signed a long-term extension with the Jazz in large part because of the coach's presence.

It's possible bringing Bryant back into the fold would improve Mitchell's trust in the organization. If he were to request a trade, there would be no shortage of suitors willing to part with young talent and draft picks for the 25-year-old All-Star.

Tony Jones of The Athletic reported Mitchell is the only untouchable player on the Jazz. The team would be willing to listen to offers for three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, whose relationship with Mitchell has been the subject of speculation for more than two years.

The Utah Jazz are reportedly open for business on the trade market this offseason.

Tony Jones of The Athletic reported Sunday that every player on the roster minus Donovan Mitchell—yes, including Rudy Gobert—has "some sort of availability on the trade market." Gobert and Bojan Bogdanovic are expected to garner "significant interest" from other teams this summer.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Mitchell is "unsettled, unnerved and wondering what it means for the franchise's future" after head coach Quin Snyder announced his resignation over the weekend. Speculation about Mitchell's desire to remain in Utah over the long term has been rampant in recent years, thanks in large part to his at-times-contentious relationship with Gobert.

The two Jazz All-Stars famously had a falling out in 2020 after Mitchell felt Gobert showed a lack of care early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Gobert was the first NBA player diagnosed with the coronavirus in March 2020, and Mitchell tested positive not long after.

There were reports at the time that the relationship between the two was "unsalvageable," but Gobert and Mitchell hashed out their issues and led the Jazz to a No. 1 seed in the West during the 2020-21 season.

That said, the fissure between the two seemed to reopen throughout this season. Gobert seemingly called out Mitchell for a lack of defensive commitment when praising other guards around the league, most notably Devin Booker, for their work to get better on that end.

"Sometimes I can be clumsy with what I say, but I always speak my mind and it always comes from a place of wanting to win," Gobert later told reporters. "Like I said to Don privately, everything that I do on the court is to help him be better.

"All the things that I do to get him open, to communicate with him, to try to push him defensively. Whether it's Donovan or all my teammates, all the things I do is to help them be better."

While Mitchell tersely avoided responding in kind at the time, he later threw his own subliminal quote in Gobert's direction in the playoffs, saying the Jazz defense picked up when Eric Paschall, rather than Gobert, was on the floor.

Even as we live in a world of rampant rumors, there's enough smoke here to believe there's legitimate tension between Mitchell and Gobert. Snyder's departure isn't likely to smooth things over, given he was a major reason Mitchell committed to the Jazz on a long-term contract extension, per Wojnarowski.

Trading Gobert would be a seismic move that would arguably reveal some of the flaws in Mitchell's game. Some of the reason Gobert tends to get exposed by perimeter-oriented big men in the playoffs is because he's forced to help off when Mitchell's man blows by him off the dribble. There's a reason why he has three Defensive Player of the Year trophies on his mantle.

That said, trading Bogdanovic isn't the type of move that would suddenly shift the culture. He's a solid role player and floor-spacer, but the Jazz's main issue appears to be a personality conflict between their two stars.

Suffice it to say it'll be an interesting offseason.