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The Oklahoma City Thunder has acquired guard Miye Oni and a 2028 second-round draft pick from the Utah Jazz in exchange for cash considerations, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.
Oni (6-5, 206) has appeared in 80 games (one start) over three seasons with the Jazz and has career averages of 1.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in 8.4 minutes per game.
In a related move, the Thunder has waived forward Gabriel Deck.
Smith Entertainment Group (SEG), the operating company which owns the Utah Jazz, Vivint Arena and other Utah-centric business ventures, today announced the appointment of Danny Ainge as CEO of Utah Jazz Basketball.
Ainge will also represent SEG as an Alternate Governor for the Utah Jazz on the NBA’s Board of Governors.
Ainge joins SEG and the Utah Jazz after 18 years with the Boston Celtics, most recently as President of Basketball Operations. During that time, he was named NBA executive of the year and the team made 15 playoff appearances, seven Eastern Conference Finals, two NBA Finals, and won an NBA championship in 2008. Previously, Ainge was head coach of the Phoenix Suns for three seasons following a 14-year career as a player. He is a three-time NBA champion, winning two titles as a player and one as an executive.
“We have big aspirations for Smith Entertainment Group and the Utah Jazz. Danny is one of the best basketball minds in the world and he’s also passionate about this state and our community,” said Ryan Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz and SEG. “We believe in adding the best talent to all facets of our organization and are lucky to have Danny’s acumen and experience. The Jazz are in great hands with the incredible leadership of General Manager Justin Zanik and Head Coach Quin Snyder. We couldn’t be more excited to bring Danny on board to work alongside Justin, Quin and me. Danny will help make our organization stronger in pursuit of our collective goal–winning an NBA title.”
“I have known and respected Ryan and Ashley Smith for many years. What they are doing here in Utah is amazing and I am excited to be a part of their vision for the Jazz and Smith Entertainment Group as a whole,” said Danny Ainge, newly appointed CEO of Utah Jazz Basketball. “Joining the Jazz was a natural and perfect fit for me, as my roots in Utah are deep and strong. This is a team that has a tremendous foundation of players and people, and Justin and Quin are doing an amazing job. I am excited to collaborate with them, be a resource, and share the perspective I have as we work together to bring our fans the success that they deserve.”
Ainge has longstanding ties to the state of Utah. He played basketball at Brigham Young University, where he led the basketball team to an Elite Eight appearance and was awarded the John R. Wooden Award as the best collegiate basketball player in the nation. Ainge will begin work in the new role Dec. 15, 2021. Danny and his wife, Michelle, recently relocated to Utah.
Via the Deseret News:
Former Utah Jazz star Deron Williams — known for fighting with the late former Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan — will take his argumentative talents to the boxing ring.
Per NBA reporter Shams Charania, Williams will fight on the undercard for the upcoming Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury fight.
The Utah Jazz have exercised their third-year team option on center Udoka Azubuike for the 2022-23 season.
Azubuike (7-0, 260, Kansas) was originally drafted by the Jazz in the first round (27th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft. The 22-year-old saw action in 15 games last season, owning averages of 1.1 points and 0.9 rebounds in 3.8 minutes per game.
During the 2021 Salt Lake City Summer League, Azubuike played in three games, averaging 13.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game, earning a 2021 Salt Lake City Summer League Standout selection. He also posted averages of 13.8 points, 8.8 boards and 2.5 blocks in four contests at the 2021 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
The Lagos, Nigeria native was a four-year collegiate player at Kansas where he garnered 2019-20 Consensus All-America Second Team honors, All-Big 12 First Team accolades and was named Big 12 Player of the Year. He left Kansas as the school’s all-time leader in field goal percentage (.746) and eighth in all-time blocks (172).
The Jazz, who at 4-0 are the NBA’s lone undefeated team through Thursday’s games, are about to hit the road. Here’s the Deseret News:
The Utah Jazz are on their first extended road trip of the young 2021-22 season and the final game of that trip is a looming cloud that could end up being their first loss of the season, but it could also be an opportunity for a big win.
They started out in Houston Thursday night with an easy 122-91 win, and will play their first back-to-back set Saturday and Sunday in Chicago and Milwaukee, respectively.
The Chicago Bulls are having their best start to a season since Michael Jordan was on their roster. Undefeated through four games, the Bulls have shown toughness and an ability to score the ball at a really high rate. With Utah coming into their building, they’ll be ready to put up a fight.
The Utah Jazz have waived forward Nino Johnson.
Johnson (6-9, 245, Southeast Missouri State) was originally signed by Utah on Oct. 14.
The Utah Jazz have signed forward Nino Johnson.
Johnson (6-9, 245, Southeast Missouri State) played in eight games (two starts) for the Hamilton Honey Badgers of the CEBL in 2020-21, averaging 7.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 17.9 minutes per game.
The Memphis, Tenn., native spent two seasons with the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League (2018-20), where he appeared in 67 games (six starts), owning averages of 5.0 points and 4.1 rebounds in 14.0 minutes per contest. He also has other professional playing experience with Joensuun Kataja in Finland (2016-17), Energa Czarni Slupsk of the P-TBL (2016-17), Thor AK Akureyri of the Icelandic League (2017-18) and the Alaska Aces of the PBA CC (2018-19).
The Utah Jazz have waived forward Derrick Alston Jr., forward/center Marques Bolden and guard MaCio Teague.
Alston Jr. (6-9, 230, Boise State) saw action in four preseason games for Utah, posting two points against Milwaukee on Oct. 13. A four-year player at Boise State, he saw action in 104 games (79 starts) with career averages of 14.2 points, 3.9 boards and 1.9 assists in 28.9 minutes per contest and left the program ranked 10th in all-time points (1,479).
Bolden (6-10, 249, Duke) averaged 2.0 points in two preseason games with the Jazz. Bolden has played in seven games with the Cleveland Cavaliers over two seasons (2019-21) during his professional career. Prior to that, he spent three seasons at Duke, appearing in 88 games (24 starts), averaging 3.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 13.6 minutes per game.
Teague (6-4, 195, Baylor) played in four preseason games, posting 3.5 points per contest. During his final collegiate season, he owned averages of 15.9 points on 47.8 percent from the field, along with 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists, helping Baylor to a National Championship. The Cincinnati native garnered 2020-21 All-Big 12 Third Team honors for his final standout collegiate season.
The Utah Jazz have waived guard Justin James.
James (6-6, 190, Wyoming) was originally signed to a two-way contract by Utah on Sept. 22.
Per the Salt Lake Tribune, “the deal means that the Jazz have another two-way spot to fill before entering the season. They could upgrade the contract of one of their training camp signees, Derrick Alston Jr, Marques Bolden, Malik Fitts, or MaCio Teague; or they could choose to look outside the organization for a logical pickup.”
The Utah Jazz have signed forwards Marques Bolden and Malik Fitts.
The deals are likely non-guaranteed, and for training camp purposes.
Bolden (6-10, 249, Duke) has played in seven games with the Cleveland Cavaliers over two seasons (2019-21) during his professional career. Prior to that, he spent three seasons at Duke, appearing in 88 games (24 starts), averaging 3.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 13.6 minutes per game. In his final season at Duke in 2018-19, he averaged 5.3 points, 4.5 boards and 1.7 blocks in 19.0 minutes per game.
Fitts (6-8, 230, St. Mary’s) played in three NBA games with the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2020-21 season and also appeared in 14 games (six starts) with the Agua Caliente Clippers of the NBA G League, averaging 11.1 points, 4.0 boards and 1.5 assists. Collegiately, Fitts spent two seasons at St. Mary’s (2018-20), where he averaged 15.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 68 career games (66 starts). At St. Mary’s, he earned 2019-20 All-WCC First Team and 2018-19 All-WCC Second Team honors. Fitts began his collegiate career playing one season at South Florida.