Sunday afternoon, citing the need to Utah Jazz To gain a new voice in their organization, Quinn Snyder stepped down as head coach. He has been in power for eight years. His 372 wins put him second in franchise history. He led jazz to postseason in six of his eight seasons.
His resignation came as no surprise, especially when the massive contract extension offered by the front office was not committed. At the same time, Snyder’s resignation means the end of an era for jazz. He was one of the best coaches in the league. He was a well-balanced blend of X and O, ability to be a player coach and someone who was also a tactical expert in and before matches.
The big question. What’s next for the Utah Jazz? How is the Jazz team progressing in search of a new head coach? This wouldn’t be just any research. In fact, there are a lot of complications. Jazz is likely to be strong in the commercial market and could make a deal that impacts the top of their list. At the same time, sources say the athleteThe Jazz had no plans to give up their status as the overall team in the Western Conference playoffs. And they have every intention of trying to continue their years-long quest to put themselves in a position to compete for a deep playoff, even for the title.
Next month makes a great Utah. Not only do Ryan Smith, Danny Inge and Justin Zanek need to find a coach, but they also need to find a coach at a time when a major change in the roster can be made, by NBA Standards, very stable over the past few years.
Seven names make up the initial list of the main coaching capabilities, say several sources in the league the athlete.
The only former coach is Terry Stotts, who recently led a team Portland Trail Blazers to the Western Conference Finals in 2019. Alex Jensen, second in command of Snyder with jazz, is on the list, as is former and current assistant jazz New York Knicks Johnny Bryant assistant. Jensen and Bryant have extensive relationships in Utah and both played for the University of Utah for the late Rick Magirus. Jensen and Bryant are gurus in player development.
Terry Stott led the Trail Blazers to the Western Conference Finals in 2019 (Ron Chenoy / USA Today)
Phoenix Kevin Young’s assistant and Milwaukee Bucks Assistant Charles Lee are also two names with interest from jazz, according to league sources, as is Boston Celtics Assistant to Will Hardy. Adrian Griffin, assistant Toronto Raptorsand Lotto’s likely father AJ Griffin of Duke, as mentioned.
Sources say that this list can be expanded, and that this list, as of this minute, is a preliminary one. But the Jazz have a base on which to work when they sit down and prepare for the interview process. Sources say internal franchise discussions are expected to begin as early as Monday morning, but Jazz is expected to take its time in the process.
Some of the qualifications the Jazz team is looking for: They want the next coach to command approval and respect from the roster, including the star guard. Donovan Mitchell. They want a coach that jazz feel is talented. Most helpers already have an impressive resume in terms of training tree pedigree. Most of the names on the list are known for their ability to develop talents and direct the defense.
Griffin is a name to watch, for the simple reason that he has prior experience looking for coaches in jazz. A finalist in research that eventually made it to Snyder in Utah, he has been previously well-matched with jazz and is considered one of the best off-the-shelf head-training assistants on the market. Bryant is also someone to watch because he has a close personal relationship with Mitchell, he’s great at developing players and someone Mitchell immediately respects, which is important.
The front desk balance would be fun, too. The Jazz team wants to spend their time in the process, screening all candidates, conducting thorough job interviews and sitting down and making an informed decision. What privilege in this position does he not want to get it all done?
Meanwhile, the NBA draft is just over two weeks away from us. We’re just under a month away from the start of the free agency. The Jazz team enters the primary season to craft their roster. No matter who they hire, they definitely want to build a list that fits that employee.
At the moment, the list contains a lot of questions without a lot of ready-made answers. League sources say several bands have contacted the jazz to inquire about the availability of trade for Mitchell, only to obtain the company’s number. The Jazz have made it clear that they intend to build a list around Mitchell. The only thing that could remove Mitchell from jazz at this point is a brutal show. They simply do not intend to trade it.
But almost everyone else, including the star center Rudy Gobert, has a kind of availability in the commercial market. League sources refer to Joubert and the junior striker Bojan Bogdanovic It was the two names that got a lot of attention from the teams. The Jazz team expects to be a strong team in the trade market.
However, the variance in Utah is high. Jazz can make multiple deals, including high-profile names on the list. They can simply return the bulk of their list. A lot depends on what the performances offer and whether the jazz thinks it makes sense to make a particular move.
What matters most is that the first domino was toppled by Utah. Jazz needed clarity in which direction to go. They needed to know if they had a head coach, or if they needed to look for a coach.
Now, they know they need to look for one.
Here is officially the Utah Jazz’s Offseason Show.
(Top photo of jazz owners Ryan Smith and Danny Inge: Rob Gray/USA Today)
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