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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.

2022 Utah Jazz draft workouts

Here’s the Salt Lake Tribune on the Utah Jazz and the 2022 NBA Draft:

The Utah Jazz do not presently have a pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Which shouldn’t and won’t stop them from conducting offseason business as usual.

Thursday morning saw the Jazz host their first predraft workout session at Zions Bank Basketball Campus. The six participants — all considered likely to be either second-rounders or rookie free agents — were Connecticut guard R.J. Cole, Wichita State guard Tyson Etienne, UCLA guard Johnny Juzang, Seton Hall wing Jared Rhoden, Australian forward Akoldah Gak, and Purdue big man Trevion Williams…

The Jazz are slated to have a second batch of workouts this weekend.

On the future of the Utah Jazz beyond the 2022 playoffs

A factor to consider after these playoffs is the team’s age. If the Jazz weren’t on the older end of the age spectrum, management might be more patient. The team’s leader, Donovan Mitchell, is only 25, while Bojan Bogdanovic is 33 and Mike Conley is 34, making them two of four players over 30. Conley has been in the professional game for 15 years, one longer than Bogdanovic.

According to Sporting News, the Jazz were tied for second among the NBA’s oldest teams entering this season. The Lakers (30.0) were the only team that was older. At 28.1, the Jazz and Nets came in second and third, respectively.

The Celtics (25.9), Grizzlies (24.2), Timberwolves (24.3), Pelicans (25.0), Raptors (25.2), and 76ers (25.8) are all rising young teams. The Jazz are in the Western Conference with a lot of the league’s best young teams.

Via the Deseret News

Donovan Mitchell good to go for Mavs at Jazz Game 6

Donovan Mitchell, star guard for the Utah Jazz, said that he will be available for Game 6 against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, a day after an MRI on his left hamstring came back negative.

Mitchell stated he’s suffering from soreness as a result of a bilateral quadriceps contusion, as diagnosed by the team’s medical staff. He did, however, state unequivocally that he would be able to play in Thursday’s home game against the Jazz, who are in danger of being eliminated.

Via ESPN.com

Injury update on Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell

The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell:

Mitchell (6-3, 222, Louisville) was re-examined Tuesday morning by the Utah Jazz medical staff and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) testing on his left hamstring. The results were negative. Mitchell has bi-lateral quadriceps contusions and will continue treatment. His status for Game 6 of Utah’s First Round series against Dallas will be updated on Wednesday.

Utah Jazz convert Trent Forrest’s contract from two-way to standard

The Utah Jazz have exercised the Standard NBA Contract Conversion Option on two-way guard Trent Forrest’s contract.

Forrest (6-4, 198, Florida State) is in his second NBA season with the Jazz, appearing in 60 games (six starts) averaging 3.3 points on 49.0 percent from the field, 1.8 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 12.8 minutes per contest in 2021-22. For his career, Forrest has seen action in 90 games as a Jazzman, owning averages of 3.1 points, 1.7 assists and 1.6 rebounds.

The Chipley, Fla., native was a four-year collegiate player at Florida State and left as the winningest player in school history with 104 victories, also ranking third in all-time steals (224), third in all-time games played (137) and fifth in all-time assists (455). Off the court, Forrest was named to the ACC All-Academic Basketball Team and ACC Academic Honor Roll in four-straight seasons.

Utah Jazz sign center Greg Monroe to 10-day contract

The Utah Jazz have signed center Greg Monroe to a 10-day contract.

Monroe (6-11, 265, Georgetown) is in his 10th NBA season, most recently playing with Minnesota, Washington and Milwaukee during the 2021-22 season, owning averages of 5.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 10 games.

A native of New Orleans, Monroe has appeared in 642 career games (417 starts) with Detroit, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Boston, Toronto, Philadelphia, Minnesota and Washington, with career averages of 13.1 points on 51.4 percent from the field, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 27.5 minutes per contest.

Jazz center Udoka Azubuike undergoes season-ending surgery

The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz center Udoka Azubuike:

Azubuike underwent successful surgery today to repair multiple ankle and foot ligaments in his right foot to stabilize the Subtalar joint. The surgery was performed in Indianapolis by foot and ankle specialist Dr. David Porter in consultation with Jazz team physician Dr. Travis Maak. Azubuike will be out for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.

Azubuike (7-0, 270, Kansas) is in his second season with the Jazz, owning averages of 4.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game.