Zanik Mum On Futures Of Snyder, Mitchell, Gobert With Jazz
Apr 29, 2022, 1:14 PM | Updated: 2:54 pm
Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder draws up a play for Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell (Photo: Deseret News: Kristin Murphy)
(Photo: Deseret News: Kristin Murphy)
SALT LAKE CITY – Justin Zanik was mostly mum on the futures of Quin Snyder, Donovan Mitchell, and Rudy Gobert after the Utah Jazz season came to a sudden end Thursday night.
Zanik, the team’s general manager was the lone member of the organization as players cleaned out their lockers and left the team for the offseason.
After entering the season with championship hopes, the Jazz dramatically underachieved throughout the year, leading to speculation that many pieces of the team’s core wouldn’t return next season.
After blowing yet another double-digit lead, their 18th such loss this year, the @utahjazz season ended in a familiar, painful fashion. #TakeNote https://t.co/1CwibxezmJ
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) April 29, 2022
While the Jazz can technically trade any player on the roster now that their season is over, significant roster moves are rarely made while the NBA postseason is in progress.
However, coaching moves are routinely made in the immediate aftermath of a team’s season coming to a close, and they can come from either the organization or the coach himself.
“I don’t know how I can make it any more clear, Quin Snyder is one of the best coaches in the NBA,” Zanik said of the Jazz current coach. “There is no other partner that I would rather have as a coach, a leader of our players, and a partner in the front office than Quin Snyder.”
"Quin Snyder is not on the hot seat” and the @utahjazz want to extend him as head coach, according to @TheSteinLine. #TakeNote #NBA #NBATwitter https://t.co/DYh93eqBei
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) April 11, 2022
But with rumored interest from the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs, Snyder could decide to move in a different direction, even if the Jazz want him back. Before the end of the regular season, reports emerged that while the Jazz have offered Snyder a contract extension, he’s yet to agree to a deal.
While Zanik stated that he preferred to have Snyder back in Utah, the organization’s view of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, and how they fit into the Jazz future was less clear.
“Donovan and Rudy, along with some of our other players are hugely important to the success of this organization,” Zanik said but didn’t guarantee their returns to the team next season.
Justin Zanik said Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell were foundational pieces.
"Anytime that we can add to that, complement that, strengthen that, because this game is a team, this competition is a team game, and they've been huge contributors for us."#TakeNote | @kslsports
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) April 29, 2022
“They’ve been huge contributors for us, among some of our other guys have given us great contributions, too. It wasn’t enough this year, so our job is to go out there and make it be enough over a period of time.”
Mitchell and Gobert are both under contract with the Jazz for the foreseeable future, but would fetch large returns on the trade market should the organization decide to shift directions and rebuild the team around one, or neither player.
After the Game 6 loss, Mitchell waffled on his commitment to the team, initially opening his final press conference by saying he was happy in Utah, before saying he needed time to clear his mind after the game.
“My mindset is to win,” Mitchell said when pressed on the issue. “Right now I’m not really looking at that.”
In addition to deciding the futures of the players and coaches on the roster, the NBA Draft is set for June 23, though the Jazz don’t currently have picks in either the first or second round.
Free agency will open in July.
