Utah Jazz

For now, the Utah Jazz don't appear to be entertaining offers for star guard Donovan Mitchell.

The Athletic's Tony Jones reported Sunday that multiple teams have reached out to Utah to ask about Mitchell's availability, "only to be given a firm no."

"The Jazz have made it clear they intend on building a roster around Mitchell," Jones wrote. "The only thing that could possibly pry Mitchell from the Jazz at this point is a monstrous offer. They simply don’t have the intention of trading him."

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday that Mitchell was "unsettled" and "unnerved" following the resignation of head coach Quin Snyder.

That has added another layer to an already cloudy future for a franchise that figured to be reshuffling this offseason. Following a third first-round playoff exit in four years, the Jazz clearly need to change some things in order to avoid a similar fate in 2022-23.

Part of that strategy could include trading one of their foundational pieces—just not Mitchell. Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer reported May 31 the team was "weighing trade possibilities" involving Rudy Gobert.

In the summer of 2019, the Oklahoma City Thunder were facing a similar dilemma as they were coming off a third straight loss in the first round. Whatever plans they had to improve in the short term were quickly dashed when Paul George requested and was granted a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers.

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne described Thunder general manager Sam Presti as "stunned" when George first reached out with the request.

With George gone, Russell Westbrook was shipped out soon after, and the Thunder were forced to rebuild from the ground up.

In the wake of Wojnarowski's report on Mitchell, it's not implausible that the Jazz could have an equally rapid reversal of fortunes. Unlike with Oklahoma City, though, Utah trading away one of its two stars could placate rather than alienate the other.

As much as the team tried to play down any friction between Mitchell and Gobert, they simply didn't appear to be on the same page. Even though Gobert isn't a dynamic offensive presence, it's difficult to justify how Mitchell would only look his way 2.3 times per game, according to NBA.com.

Persisting with this partnership might be a recipe for disaster.

Trading Gobert and improving their lot—or at least maintaining their current level—will be difficult for the Jazz.

The Frenchman is owed $123 million over the next three seasons and has a $46.7 million player option for 2025-26. That's a steep price to pay for a more traditional center who doesn't space the floor, thus giving interested suitors some leverage in negotiations.

But jettisoning Gobert would also send a message to Mitchell that he's the unquestioned face of the franchise moving forward. That might be enough to keep him happy for the time being, thus allowing Utah to avoid a painful teardown.

Longtime Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder resigned on Sunday, and in the immediate aftermath ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that star guard Donovan Mitchell was "unsettled, unnerved and wondering what it means for the franchise's future."

That called into question whether Mitchell was unhappy in Utah and would potentially seek a change of scenery this summer. The Jazz, of course, could always involve Mitchell in the process to hire the next head coach in an effort to keep him happy.

If they go that route, NBA writer Marc Stein reported on Monday that one name to keep an eye on is New York Knicks assistant Johnnie Bryant:

Bryant, meanwhile, is a known favorite of Jazz star Donovan Mitchell, but [CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge's] appetite for putting Mitchell's interests first is in question after Utah catered heavily to Mitchell (trading for his childhood friend Eric Paschall and revamping the athletic training staff to Mitchell's specifications) before Ainge's hiring on Dec. 15. Mitchell has three guaranteed seasons left on his contract before a $37.1 million player option in 2025-26.

Snyder's departure brings with it a number of questions around the Jazz, from whether there are deeper internal problems in the team to if the Jazz, led by Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, have simply reached their natural ceiling and require more sweeping changes to be a true title contender.

Snyder, for his part, said he simply felt like he wasn't the right man to steer the ship going forward.

"At the core, and what drives me every day is our players and their passion for the game, their desire to constantly work to improve and their dedication to the team and the Jazz. I strongly feel they need a new voice to continue to evolve," Snyder said in the statement announcing his decision to step down. "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."

Per Woj, "Mitchell considered Snyder a significant part of his reasoning for committing to a five-year maximum contract extension in 2020, and Snyder's decision to step away on Sunday has left Mitchell 'surprised and disappointed,' sources told ESPN."

Bryant, 36, served as an assistant on Snyder's staff between the 2014-15 and 2019-20 seasons, before making the move to the Knicks ahead of the 2020-21 campaign. He spent three seasons with Mitchell in Utah, and that familiarity could play a factor in Bryant's potential candidacy.

Charania reported Sunday that Bryant was one of the initial candidates, along with Jazz assistant Alex Jensen, former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts, Boston Celtics assistant coach Will Hardy and Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin.

Marc Berman of the New York Post added that former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel "also could command a look" for the Jazz.

David Fizdale could be a candidate to replace Quin Snyder as head coach of the Utah Jazz, according to NBA reporter Marc Stein:

There have likewise been rumbles for months emanating from Salt Lake City that Jazz minority owner Dwyane Wade could push the team to consider Lakers assistant coach David Fizdale for the post after Wade's years in Miami alongside Fizdale when he worked as an assistant under Erik Spoelstra.

The Jazz have an opening after Snyder stepped down from his role Sunday after eight seasons with the team. He had two years remaining on his contract.

Fizdale was an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021-22 after spending parts of four seasons as a head coach with the Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks. He produced a 71-134 record in the two stops and was fired early in the second year each time.

Fizdale racked up a lot of experience as an NBA assistant before getting his first coaching job, including eight years with the Miami Heat. He coached Wade during each of those seasons, serving as the associate head coach from 2014 to '16.

Wade earned eight of his 13 career All-Star selections during this time, plus two NBA titles and his lone scoring title in 2008-09.

It could create a powerful ally as the Jazz search for a new head coach.

Wade became a minority owner of the team in April 2021 with plans of taking on an active role with the organization.

The Jazz are coming off their sixth straight season with a playoff appearance, although three of the last four ended with a first-round loss.

There are also questions about the roster going forward, with All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell unsure about his future with the team after Snyder's resignation, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Center Rudy Gobert could also draw interest in a trade, per Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer.

It's among the many decisions the organization must make in the coming weeks and months.

Danny Ainge might look to reunite with Brad Stevens as the Utah Jazz embark on their coaching search, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

Stein described Stevens, who stepped down as head coach of the Boston Celtics in order to become their president of basketball operations, as a candidate "sure to interest" Ainge. However, Stein added the chances of Stevens leaving Boston this offseason are slim.

The Jazz are looking for a new coach after Quin Snyder resigned Sunday.

Because of his past experience with Ainge and success with the Celtics, Stevens would be an obvious target for Utah. The 45-year-old posted a record of 354-282 in eight seasons and guided Boston to the postseason in all but one of his years in charge.

Especially in light of the Celtics' run to the NBA Finals this year, one can argue Stevens failed to get the most out of his squads, but he was also responsible for helping to develop the likes of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart.

The Jazz are in a position similar to that of Boston when it had Stevens move into the front office and hired Ime Udoka. Snyder has the second-best winning percentage (.585) in franchise history, yet it was impossible to overlook the fact that Utah lost in the first round of the NBA playoffs in three of the last four years. Snyder might have taken the team as far as he could.

Stevens not only has a proven track record, but he'd also be a great fit for an organization in a rebuild if it comes to that.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Donovan Mitchell is "unsettled" and "unnerved" following Snyder's resignation. The Jazz would be facing an uncertain future in the event Mitchell requested and was granted a trade.

Of course, Stevens' availability could be a roadblock.

While distancing himself from the Los Angeles Lakers' vacancy, he acknowledged in April he "[has] no idea what my future holds."

Spending a year away from the sideline might have been enough for Stevens to recharge and get the coaching itch again. But it seems unlikely he'd be willing to leave the Celtics' front office already,

The general sense of unease within the Utah Jazz isn't tied solely to the departure of head coach Quin Snyder.

The team announced Sunday that Snyder was leaving effectively immediately. Shortly after the news, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Donovan Mitchell is "unsettled, unnerved and wondering what it means for the franchise's future."

"Mitchell considered Snyder a significant part of his reasoning for committing to a five-year maximum contract extension in 2020, and Snyder's decision to step away on Sunday has left Mitchell 'surprised and disappointed,' sources told ESPN," per Wojnarowski.

Many assumed some changes were on the horizon for the Jazz after they lost in the first round of the playoffs for the third time in four years. Utah failed to advance past the conference semifinals under Snyder.

In a statement addressing his decision, Snyder said he believed the Jazz "need a new voice to continue to evolve" and that there wasn't an inciting factor that led him to walk away.

The question now becomes how much more turnover Utah will have this offseason.

It's never good when a star player is questioning the franchise's direction, but Wojnarowski's report may not be cause for panic.

There's no guarantee the Jazz will find someone better than Snyder, but it seemed pretty clear they went as far as they could with him at the helm. One way to view Mitchell's reaction is not necessarily that he's looking for an exit but instead wants to provide plenty of input on possible coaching targets.

Perhaps the biggest roster move Utah could make in order to placate Mitchell—trading Rudy Gobert—is already under consideration, too. Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer reported on May 31 the Jazz "are weighing trade possibilities," though conversations inside and outside of the team remain about whether that's the best course of action.

Mitchell is a three-time All-Star who's in the prime of his career. The 25-year-old is averaging 23.9 points and 4.5 assists and shooting 44.1 percent from the floor through his first five seasons.

If Mitchell were to request a trade, then plenty of contenders would almost certainly line up to throw their best offer at Utah.

This isn't a particularly deep free-agent class coming up, and Mitchell has three more years left on his current deal before he can opt out. Those two factors would give the Jazz a lot of leverage at the bargaining table.

Snyder's resignation wasn't totally unexpected but surprising nonetheless. It's only natural that Mitchell would be taken aback a bit in the immediate aftermath. For now, it might be too early to start building hypothetical trades sending him out of Utah.

Former Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel, former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts and New York Knicks associate head coach Johnnie Bryant are reportedly among the candidates to replace Quin Snyder, who stepped down as the Utah Jazz head coach Sunday.

Marc Berman of the New York Post reported Vogel could receive an interview for the opening, though he noted Stotts is viewed as the "early favorite." Meanwhile, Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic provided a longer list of candidates.

The Jazz are coming off a 49-33 season that ended with a first-round loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs.

It was a disappointing season for the Jazz, who ended the regular season with a 22-23 mark in their final 45 games. Utah had also finished first in the Western Conference standings the year before but fell to the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round of the playoffs.

Still, Snyder did a good job in Salt Lake City and left the franchise as the second-winningest coach in team history behind Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan. Snyder ultimately finished 372-264 and led the Jazz to playoff appearances in each of the past six seasons.

The page has turned to a new era, though, with Snyder now leaving Utah. Vogel and Stotts are the biggest names in the search thus far.

Vogel just recently finished a three-year stint with the Lakers, one that saw him help the franchise to an NBA title in 2020. The team did, however, fail to reach the playoffs—or even play-in game, for that matter—this past season after putting together a 33-49 record.

Vogel has a 431-389 record throughout 11-year career as a head coach. He also has stints with the Indiana Pacers (250-181 from 2010-16) and the Orlando Magic (54-110 from 2016-18).

Stotts is two years removed from a successful nine-year tenure as the Portland Trail Blazers coach (2012-2021). During that time, he went 402-318 and led the team to the playoffs in each of his last eight seasons. The Blazers' playoff peak occurred in 2019, when they made the Western Conference Finals.

Stotts has been named as a candidate for the only other remaining head-coaching opening in the league in the Charlotte Hornets. Per Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic on May 17, the Hornets planned to interview Stotts for the role.

As for Bryant, it's a matter of if and not when the 36-year-old gets his chance to lead an NBA sideline. He's already familiar with Utah after serving as an assistant under Snyder from 2014-2020 before leaving for the Knicks and working under head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Bryant, who starred as the University of Utah's point guard in the mid-2000s, also worked for the Jazz as a player development assistant from 2012-2014.

Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder stepped down from his position after eight seasons, the team announced Sunday.

Snyder coached the Jazz to a 49-33 record this past season for their second straight first-place finish in the Northwest Division and sixth consecutive postseason appearance. Utah lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs in six games.

Snyder had one year remaining on his contract. The Athletic's Sam Amick reported after the loss that Snyder was "unsure" of his future with Utah, adding, "it appears nearly every scenario is on the table." Amick noted that there was still a possibility that Snyder could remain with the team, find a new job or simply take a year off.

Snyder coached the Jazz to a 372-264 record in the regular season. The team finished with the best record in the league in 2020-21. However, Utah was plagued by postseason disappointments and never made it past the second round. In six playoff appearances, Snyder had a 21-30 record with three first-round exits in the last four years.

Despite having a pair of All-Stars in Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, the Jazz struggled to build chemistry last season. There had been rumors that either Mitchell or Gobert was hoping to part ways with Utah, but both of them publicly affirmed their commitment to the team.

With Snyder no longer at the helm, the Jazz will turn the page to finding someone who will take them to the next level. As of now, it appears that Utah will continue building around Mitchell and Gobert, so the next head coach will be inheriting a solid roster.

Quin Snyder is widely considered one of the best coaches in the NBA, but his time with the Utah Jazz may reportedly end before his current contract expires.

Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon of ESPN reported that even following "weeks of conversations with ownership and management" the coach's future is "unclear and a possibility exists that he could decide to end his eight-year tenure with the franchise."

Snyder has two years remaining on his deal if his option for 2023-24 is included. According to the report, Utah offered to extend the deal and would be fine with the coach returning on his current contract without any changes.

Yet the discussions continue with no timetable and at least the possibility he could be done in Utah and "one of the most sought-after candidates in 2023 and beyond."

Snyder is 372-264 during his eight seasons with the Jazz and led them to the playoffs in each of the last six campaigns. That is a far cry from the team that went 25-57 in 2013-14 during the season before he arrived, and nobody in the NBA had a better record than Utah's 52-20 mark in 2020-21.

However, the team has not yet parlayed the regular-season success into deep postseason runs with three second-round losses and three first-round losses. 

This past season ended with a six-game loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round, and the future may not include the jump fans are surely looking for considering Wojnarowski and MacMahon noted the team is "projected to be deep into the luxury tax again" with "limited roster flexibility."

Then there is the issue of whether Utah will bring back both Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert with no shortage of rumors that the pair of stars could be headed toward a split this offseason.

For now, uncertainty seems to be the theme of the Jazz's offseason. Losing one of the best coaches in the league would only contribute to that notion.

The Los Angeles Lakers' head coaching job reportedly didn't appeal to Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder.

According to Dan Woike and Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times, Snyder "wasn't interested" in going to L.A. despite rumors that the Lakers coveted him during their head coaching search.

Los Angeles hired Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham on Friday to replace the fired Frank Vogel, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Given that the Jazz haven't made it out of the second round of the playoffs in any of the past six seasons under Snyder, there was some thought that Utah would be open to a coaching change.

In the same vein, it was assumed that the Lakers job would perhaps appeal to Snyder since he was an assistant for the team during the 2011-12 season and would have a chance to coach the superstar duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

It is still possible the Jazz will move on from Snyder, but for now, it appears he is set to return for his ninth season.

Utah should be a playoff team again next season if it returns the core led by Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Bojan Bogdanovic, Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson, but a shake-up seems likely at some point since playoff success has been so elusive.

As for the Lakers, Ham has experience with the organization, having been an assistant coach from 2011 to 2013. He later spent time with the Atlanta Hawks before making the move to Milwaukee in 2018.

As one of head coach Mike Budenholzer's top assistants, Ham helped lead the Bucks to the NBA championship last season.

Ham spent eight seasons in the league as a player, winning the title in 2003-04 with the Detroit Pistons.

The Lakers finished a disappointing 33-49 this season and missed the playoffs, primarily because James and Davis missed significant time with injuries.

The lack of a strong supporting cast around LeBron and AD is a concern, but if they can stay healthy, L.A. could resemble the team that won the championship two seasons ago.