To the surprise of some, Quin Synder stepped down as head coach of the Utah Jazz. It was the first of what could be multiple major moves made by the franchise this NBA offseason as they look to shake up what has become a stagnant situation in Salt Lake City.
Utah was consistently one of the better teams in the NBA during the regular season under Synder, who had a record of 372-264. Unfortunately, that success did not translate to the postseason despite some advantageous situations.
Utah was tied 2-2 in their second-round series with the LA Clippers in 2021 when Kawhi Leonard went down with a knee injury. They would lose the next two games to be eliminated. In this year’s postseason, the Dallas Mavericks were without Luka Doncic for the first three games of their first-round series. Utah went down 2-1 despite that.
2007 was the last time that the Jazz advanced beyond the second round. Danny Ainge is now part of the front office and will be looking to snap that streak as soon as possible.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell Uncertain About Utah Jazz Future After Quin Snyder’s Exit
While people will focus on the roster changes that may be coming, the Jazz first needs to find a head coach. One person to keep an eye on is former Portland Trail Blazers head coach, Terry Stotts.
Stotts interviewed for the Los Angeles Lakers head coaching job this offseason, but they went with first-timer Darvin Ham, who has been an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks. If Utah is looking for someone with head coaching experience, Stotts could be their man.
“The initial list of targets to replace Snyder only features one candidate with previous head coaching experience: Terry Stotts, the former Blazers play-caller. Stotts has a strong relationship with Snyder, and the same representation, and spent several weeks around the Jazz this season. Utah officials are still compiling their list of interviewees, sources said, and will begin formal outreach to candidates in the coming days.”
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell Uncertain About Utah Jazz Future After Quin Snyder’s Exit
Other names on the candidate list are all currently assistant coaches around the league. Johnny Bryant of the New York Knicks, who was previously in Utah, Alex Jensen of the Jazz, Will Hardy of the Boston Celtics, Adrian Griffin of the Toronto Raptors, Charles Lee of the Bucks and Kevin Young of the Phoenix Suns.
All of them would be first-time head coaches, which could give Terry Stotts a leg up depending on what Ainge and the rest of the front office and ownership are looking for. It should be no surprise that outside of Bryant, who has ties to the organization already, the other assistants are all from teams that qualified for the postseason.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Donovan Mitchell Uncertain About Utah Jazz Future After Quin Snyder’s Exit
Right now, Bryant is considered the front runner. His relationship with Donovan Mitchell could be a deciding factor in this coaching search if Mitchell isn’t traded by the organization.
