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Utah Jazz sign Simone Fontecchio

The Utah Jazz have signed forward Simone Fontecchio.

Fontecchio (6-7, 200, Italy) joins the Jazz after most recently playing for Baskonia of the Liga ACB in Spain in 2021-22. He appeared in 70 games (53 starts) in the ACB and EuroLeague last season, owning averages of 11.8 points on 45.2 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from three, along with 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 26.0 minutes per contest.

A native of Pescara, Italy, Fontecchio began his professional career in 2012-13 with Virtus Bologna of the Lega A in Italy. He was with Virtus Bologna from 2012-17, going on to play with Milan of the Lega A from 2016-19, with stints with Vanoli Cremona in 2017-18, along with experience with Reggio Emilia in 2019-20 and ALBA Berlin of the German Bundesliga in 2020-21. He was named the Italian Lega A Best Under-22 Player following the 2014-15 season with Virtus Bologna.

The 26-year-old has represented the Senior Italian National Team in multiple events, including the 2017 European World Cup Qualifiers, the 2020 EuroBasket Qualifiers, the 2021 Olympic Qualifiers, the 2021 Olympic Games and the 2021 European World Cup Qualifiers. During the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, he saw action in four contests, averaging 19.3 points on 52.7 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from beyond the arc, 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 30.2 minutes per game.

Utah Jazz sign rookie Johnny Juzang to two-way contract

The Utah Jazz have signed rookie guard/forward Johnny Juzang to a two-way contract.

Juzang (6-7, 215, UCLA) played in 30 games (29 starts) with the Bruins last season and averaged 15.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists, earning 2021-22 All-Pac-12 First Team honors.

The Los Angeles-native averaged 19.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in nine career NCAA Tournament games. He helped lead UCLA to the Sweet 16 in 2022 and the Final Four in 2021, the program’s first Final Four appearance since 2008. He ranks 10th on the Bruin’s all-time scoring list in the NCAA Tournament with 174 points.

Juzang appeared in 85 career-collegiate games over three seasons (UCLA 2020-22 and Kentucky 2019-20) and holds career averages of 11.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 25.5 minutes per contest.

Utah Jazz sign rookie Walker Kessler

The Utah Jazz have signed rookie center Walker Kessler.

Kessler (7-1, 245, Auburn) was originally drafted by Memphis in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft (22nd overall) with his draft rights being acquired by Minnesota before being traded to Utah. During his final collegiate season at Auburn, the 20-year-old averaged 11.4 points on 60.8 percent from the field, 8.1 rebounds, 4.6 blocks (tied for first in NCAA) and 1.1 steals in 34 games (all starts), being named to the 2021-22 All-SEC First Team and All-SEC Defensive Team, also earning 2021-22 SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors. He was additionally named to the AP All-American Third Team and selected as the 2021-22 NABC Defensive Player of the Year.

The native of Newnan, Ga. spent his first collegiate season at North Carolina in 2020-21, where he appeared in 29 games, averaging 4.4 points on 57.8 percent from the field and 3.2 rebounds in 8.8 minutes per contest.

Jazz trade Rudy Gobert to Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves yesterday acquired center Rudy Gobert in a trade with the Utah Jazz for guards Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley and forward Jarred Vanderbilt, along with guard Leandro Bolmaro, the draft rights to center Walker Kessler and Minnesota’s 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029 first round picks and a 2026 first round pick swap.

Gobert, 30, has appeared in 611 regular season games (519 starts) in nine NBA seasons with the Jazz, averaging 12.4 points on 65.3% shooting, 11.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. The 7-1 center played in 66 games (all starts) last season, averaging 15.6 points on a career-high 71.3% shooting, a career-best 14.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. His 71.3% (362-of-508) from the field led the NBA during the 2021-22 season and per the Elias Sports Bureau, he joined Wilt Chamberlain (1972-73) and DeAndre Jordan (3x, MR: 2016-17) as the only players in NBA history to shoot 70% or better from the field on 500+ shots. In addition to leading the NBA last season in rebounding and shooting percentage, Gobert ranked second in double-doubles (53) and third in blocks (2.1). He’s seen action in 49 career playoff games (all starts) with averages of 13.4 points on 66.2% shooting, 11.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.

The Saint-Quentin, France native is a three-time All-NBA selection (Second Team in 2017, Third Team in 2019 and 2021), a three-time Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2018, 2019, 2021), a three-time NBA All-Star (2020, 2021, 2022) and a six-time All-Defensive First Team selection (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022). Gobert has played in the last two Olympics for France, leading the French National Team to a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. During the 2020 Olympics, he averaged 12.2 points on 63.6% shooting and 9.3 rebounds, earning him a spot on the Men’s Basketball All-Star Five.

Gobert was originally drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the 27th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.

Acquired via trade from the Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 25, 2021, Beverley appeared in 58 games (54 starts) for the Wolves last season, averaging 9.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. He holds career averages of 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 10 NBA seasons.

Acquired by the Timberwolves via a trade with the Nuggets on Feb. 5, 2020, Beasley appeared in 130 games (68 starts) for Minnesota over three seasons, averaging 15.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He holds career averages of 10.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in seven NBA seasons.

Acquired by the Timberwolves via a trade with the Nuggets on Feb. 5, 2020, Vanderbilt appeared in 140 games (97 starts) for Minnesota over three seasons, averaging 6.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. He holds career averages of 5.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in five NBA seasons.

Bolmaro appeared in 35 games last season for Minnesota, averaging 1.4 points and 1.2 rebounds per game. He was originally acquired by the Timberwolves via a trade with the New York Knicks on Nov. 20, 2020.

Kessler averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game as a sophomore at Auburn University. His draft rights were originally acquired via trade during the 2022 NBA Draft from the Grizzlies.

Jazz will reportedly trade Rudy Gobert to Timberwolves

The Utah Jazz look like they’re taking a step forwards rebuilding, while the Minnesota Timberwolves are about to enjoy an incredibly talented combination at the power forward and center spots. Via ESPN.com:

The Utah Jazz agreed to trade center Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a blockbuster deal that will pair him with fellow All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Timberwolves will send Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, No. 22 overall pick Walker Kessler and four first-round picks to the Jazz, sources said. Utah will acquire unprotected picks in 2023, 2025 and 2027 and a top-five-protected pick in 2029, sources said, in Danny Ainge’s first franchise-altering deal since taking over as the Jazz’s CEO midseason.

A combo of Gobert and star Karl-Anthony Towns up front makes the Timberwolves a must-watch team going into next season.

Utah Jazz trade Royce O’Neale to Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired forward Royce O’Neale in a trade with the Utah Jazz for a 2023 first round draft pick (the least favorable of the Brooklyn/Houston first round pick swap and Philadelphia’s first round pick that was previously acquired by Brooklyn).

“We are excited to welcome Royce and his family to Brooklyn,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “He is a versatile wing defender and floor spacer whose tenacious style of play fits the fabric of the team we are building.”

O’Neale (6’6”, 215) appeared in 370 games (230 starts) across five seasons (2017-22) with Utah, recording averages of 6.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 25.7 minutes per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from 3-point range and 79.6 percent from the free-throw line. The 29-year-old appeared in and started 77 games for Utah during the 2021-22 season, averaging a career-high 7.4 points on 45.7 percent shooting from the field, 38.9 percent shooting from 3-point range and 80.4 percent shooting from the free-throw line with 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 31.2 minutes per contest. O’Neale has also seen action in 40 career playoff games (29 starts) over five postseason appearances with the Jazz, registering averages of 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 30.9 minutes per game while shooting 47.0 percent from the field, 39.9 percent from 3-point range and 69.8 percent from the free-throw line. Prior to signing with Utah, the Killeen, Texas, native played one season (2016-17) for Gran Canaria in Spain’s ACB and one season (2015-16) for MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg of the German Bundesliga after going undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft. He previously played two collegiate seasons (2013-15) at Baylor and two collegiate seasons (2011-13) at the University of Denver.

Utah Jazz hire David Fizdale as associate general manager

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has hired David Fizdale as associate general manager. He joins the organization with 18 years of NBA coaching experience.

Fizdale most recently served as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2021-22 season and previously served as head coach of the New York Knicks from 2018-20 and the Memphis Grizzlies from 2016-18.

Prior to joining the Grizzlies for his first NBA head coaching assignment, Fizdale spent eight seasons (2008-16) with the Miami Heat as an assistant coach, including the final two years as assistant head coach under Erik Spoelstra. During his tenure in Miami, the Heat won back-to-back NBA Championships in 2012 and 2013, and more playoff games (70) and series (15) than any other NBA team.

He also served as an assistant coach for one season in Golden State (2003-04) and for four seasons in Atlanta (2004-08).

Fizdale began his coaching career at the collegiate level, serving as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of San Diego (1998-02) and at Fresno State (2002-03). His first NBA job was as a member of the Heat’s video department in 1997-98.

He was a three-year starter at USD and was named to the All-West Coast Conference team as a senior in 1995-96 when he led the conference in assists with 7.0 per game.

The Los Angeles, Calif., native earned a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in sociology.

Utah Jazz name Will Hardy as new head coach

The Utah Jazz have named Will Hardy as their new head coach.

Hardy is the ninth head coach in Jazz history and sixth since the franchise’s relocation to Salt Lake City in 1979.

Hardy joins the Jazz from the Boston Celtics, where he spent one season as an assistant coach, helping guide the team to its first NBA Finals appearance since 2010. He was also a member of the USA men’s basketball coaching staff that won the gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Prior to the Celtics, Hardy spent 11 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant coach. He also served as the head coach of the Spurs entries in the Salt Lake City Summer League from 2015-18 and NBA Summer League in Las Vegas in 2017 and 2018.

“We could not be more excited to welcome Will Hardy as the next head coach of the Utah Jazz,” said Ryan Smith, NBA governor of the Utah Jazz. “He has incredible experience and we believe in his continued trajectory. Danny and Justin ran a comprehensive process and we are confident Will is the right head coach to lead us into the next chapter of the Utah Jazz. Ashley and I and the entire ownership group are grateful to welcome Will, his wife Spencer, and their family to Utah.”

“Will Hardy is one of the brightest young leaders in the NBA,” said Utah Jazz CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge. “He understands the importance of setting a vision and creating a culture for players. He places great value on communication, player development and creating the most productive environment for players to succeed. His experience on coaching staffs that have made the NBA Finals and with USA Basketball are invaluable and have helped prepare him for this moment. We couldn’t be more excited for Will to lead the Jazz moving forward.”

“As our search committee went through this process, Will really separated himself among a group of extremely talented candidates,” said Jazz general manager Justin Zanik. “We’re eager to get to work with him as we continue our pursuit of bringing an NBA championship to Utah.”

Hardy began his career in San Antonio as a basketball operations intern in 2010 before being promoted to assistant video coordinator in 2011 and then video coordinator in 2013. He also served on the coaching staff for Team USA at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

“The Utah Jazz are one of the most respected and successful franchises in the NBA and the fan base here is legendary,” Hardy said. “This opportunity comes with tremendous responsibility. I’m grateful for the trust the Jazz have placed in me and I look forward to the work ahead.”

A native of Richmond, Va., Hardy graduated from Williams College where he played four collegiate seasons for the Ephs while earning an undergraduate degree in English.

The latest on the Utah Jazz coaching search

The Utah Jazz need a new head coach. Here’s the latest on that search from ESPN.com:

The Utah Jazz have received permission to interview several assistant coaches in their search for Quin Snyder’s replacement, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.

The list includes New York Knicks associate head coach Johnnie Bryant, Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Charles Lee, and Boston Celtics assistant coaches Will Hardy and Joe Mazzulla, sources said.

Utah also intends to interview Jazz assistant coach Alex Jensen and former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts, sources said.