Category: Utah Jazz Blog

Here’s the Deseret News reporting on the Utah Jazz search for a new head coach:

Over the years, Quin Snyder has played for and worked with Mike Krzyzewski. The 47-year-old became a national coaching star while guiding the Missouri Tigers from 1999-2006. He’s been an NBA assistant on multiple occasions, including with the Atlanta Hawks most recently.

By the way, he’s also worked with Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey.

Now, Snyder has emerged as a leading candidate to become the next head coach of the Utah Jazz, according to multiple sources.

“It’s very plausible,” one source told the Deseret News when speaking of Snyder possibly being hired by the Jazz.

Another source said Snyder is “very high on a short list” of Jazz coaching candidates.

Here’s ESPN.com reporting an interesting possibility:

The Utah Jazz, as part of a broad coaching search expected to feature some 20 candidates, plan to reach out to Jazz legend John Stockton to gauge whether he has any interest in the position, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

Sources told ESPN.com that Jazz officials intend to at least pose the question to the Hall of Fame guard about his willingness to move into coaching, while mindful of Stockton’s lack of previous coaching experience and the fact that he has long loathed the sort of spotlight associated with the job.

Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey declined comment Tuesday night about Stockton or any other prospective candidates when reached by ESPN.com.

Here’s the Deseret News reporting on the Jazz:

One of the top executives of the Utah Jazz organization and Fanzz stores will be retiring after the NBA draft.

Executive vice president Bob Hyde will retire from his positions as the Jazz’s chief financial officer and Fanzz president at the end of June after working for the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies for the past 30 years in various capacities.

The Jazz are expecting Hyde to continue to provide his capologist input on a part-time basis or as a consultant.

Here’s the Salt Lake Tribune reporting on a key member of the Utah Jazz returning to action:

After missing four straight games with a sprained left ankle, Jazz shooting guard Alec Burks was back in the lineup Sunday.

It took a moment to shake the rust off.

The attacking guard was in familiar position, getting back to the line quickly upon checking into the game. But he hit on just one of his first four free-throw attempts. Handling the ball in a first-quarter pick and roll, Burks dribbled right and lost it out of bounds.

“When I was talking to him on the court, he said he felt like he was moving a little too fast,” forward Marvin Williams said. “I told him, when you have time off your timing is the first thing to go. You just have to tell yourself to slow down a little bit. … He slowed down and he got back to the same old Alec.”

Here’s the Deseret News reporting that the Utah Jazz will make a change this offseason:

So long, Florida humidity. Hello, Nevada heat. Breaking tradition, the Utah Jazz will participate in the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League this July.

The Jazz had been going to the Orlando Pro Summer League since the Rocky Mountain Revue stopped functioning in 2008, in large part because of how the Vegas event led to the demise of Utah’s annual hoops showcase.

“Having our training camp in Orlando was difficult for us and we felt it was time to move forward,” Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which first reported the switch. “We feel there’s a natural tie-in with Las Vegas and it’ll be great for our fans to follow us (and) be able to see our young players. We’re very excited about the move.”

Here’s the Salt Lake Tribune reporting on Jazz center Enes Kanter:

It’s a shot Jazz center Enes Kanter has in his repertoire — and one his coach would like to see more of.

“When he feels the guy, feels the guy and it’s that running hook across the lane with his rhythm, I think that’s a really good shot for him,” Ty Corbin said. “And actually it gives him an opportunity to get fouled because he’s going across the basket. He’s moving, his guy is moving.”

About 11 percent of Kanter’s attempts this season have been some variation of a hook shot, according to the NBA’s data. He’s hitting on 61 percent of them.

“Kareem in his day perfected the shot,” Corbin said. “It’s very effective. I’ve seen a few of them myself live. You can’t get to it.”

Here’s the Salt Lake Tribune highlighting the importance of Derrick Favors to the Utah Jazz this season:

Derrick Favors’ injury has changed a few times over the season. It’s been a hip sprain, a sore hip, an inflamed hip and, most recently, a sprained hip.

But one thing has remained constant: the Jazz are winless when he doesn’t play. With Favors missing his seventh game in the Jazz’s last 13 on Saturday, Utah fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves and dropped to 0-9 on the year in games without Favors.

“I think everyone is confident in each other’s abilities but what Derrick brings to the table, this team really misses when he’s not here,” said forward Marvin Williams. “He’s an anchor. He’s a great rebounder. He’s a great one-on-one defender. He’s also a great help-side defender. Derrick has always been there to save the day. But, obviously, when he’s not back there, it’s been difficult.”