After coaching the Jazz for nearly a decade, Quin Snyder is no longer running the show for Utah. But what does that mean for Donovan Mitchell?
Mitchell, a three-time All-Star, has only ever played for Snyder during his professional career. He has enjoyed tremendous success playing for Snyder, and with rumors swirling about his potential departure, this was the icing on the cake.
There was nothing particularly shocking about Snyder’s decision, and for many, it felt like it was a long time coming. But according to Adrian Wojnarowski, when he learned the news, Mitchell didn’t take it particularly well (via ESPN):
“Amid the reverberations of Quin Snyder’s departure after eight seasons as the Utah Jazz coach, All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell is described as ‘unsettled, unnerved and wondering what it means for the franchise’s future,’ sources told ESPN on Sunday. 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.”
Based on what we know about the nature of trade requests, that language certainly suggests Mitchell may want out. We’ve seen this story over and over, and it usually ends with the superstar leaving the small market.
However, all of the other reporting suggests that if one player were to go, experts expect that player would be Rudy Gobert.
Rival organizations are not having much luck in their pursuit of Mitchell thus far, per reports (via The Athletic):
“League sources say multiple teams have called the Jazz to inquire about the trade availability of Mitchell, only to be given a firm no. The Jazz have made it clear they intend on building a roster around Mitchell. 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.”
Even though the Knicks and Heat are the two teams most often linked as potential suitors, Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer recently noted that Mitchell is “expected to remain committed” to Utah.
Fischer also added that it is is “highly unlikely” the Knicks acquire the superstar wing this offseason. So what can the Jazz do to make sure that Mitchell doesn’t demand a trade?
In other words: Donovan Mitchell wants to have a significant say in who the next Jazz's head coach is https://t.co/H4Ot6jFrUp
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) June 5, 2022
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Utah’s personnel changes will likely factor in Mitchell’s desires (via The Hoop Collective):
“My feel is that Jazz are going to do some level of overhaul that does not include Donovan Mitchell in an attempt to to make Donovan more comfortable. And that could work. It could work but it’s going to be difficult.”
We saw that shape up in the immediate aftermath when news broke that Snyder was stepping down.
One of the first names who was linked as a potential replacement for Snyder was Knicks assistant Johnnie Bryant.
Sources: Among initial candidates for Utah’s open head coaching job: Knicks assistant Johnnie Bryant, Jazz assistant Alex Jensen, former Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts, Celtics assistant Will Hardy and Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 5, 2022
With fairness to Bryant’s legitimate candidacy, the New York associate head coach is not without ties to the organization. Bryant played college basketball for the nearby Utah Utes until 2007.
He was also an assistant for the Jazz from 2014 until 2020, and Mitchell’s rapid development was Bryant’s “top priority” during that span. The two had a “great relationship” during their time together with the team.
Based on Bryant’s name mentioned as an early candidate, it seems that the organization is going to do everything it can to keep Mitchell happy. Until then, I’d assume that the reporting from yesterday’s fallout was just a leverage play for Mitchell to get his preferred coach in the door.
