3 weird Jazz offseason moves that aren’t going to make Donovan Mitchell happy and suggest something big might happen (UPDATE)

UPDATE: Utah reportedly traded star Rudy Gobert shortly after this post.

The Utah Jazz, one of the most successful regular season teams of the last few years, are currently having an especially weird offseason.

When fans look at the moves the organization has made thus far, it’s a bit hard to understand what the intentions are here. But it doesn’t seem like they are making moves that satisfy their franchise cornerstone, Donovan Mitchell, very happy.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst certainly suggested as much during a recent appearance on First Take. Additionally, recent social media activity from Mitchell may imply something similar.

We don’t know what will happen next, of course, but maybe a re-build is on the horizon. Here are some of the reasons we may believe as much:

Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Mitchell was reportedly “surprised and disappointed” by the news that Quin Snyder would no longer coach the organization.

Snyder is the only head coach that Mitchell has had in the NBA and the news was likely legitimately surprising for the former Louisville star, writes Andy Larsen (via Salt Lake Tribute):

“Snyder and Mitchell had a good relationship, especially early in Mitchell’s career. Both are hardcore basketball junkies who spent untold hours in the film room, dissecting the smallest nuances of plays and schemes. Snyder recognized and believed in Mitchell’s talent from the get-go. I believe that Mitchell is disappointed and surprised that it got to this point.”

Mitchell may have wanted another year with Snyder in charge of the team.

Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

One of the candidates to replace Snyder was Johnnie Bryant, who had an interesting background.

As I wrote last month, Bryant was likely Mitchell’s pick to lead the team:

“Bryant played college basketball for the nearby Utah Utes until 2007. He was also an assistant for the Jazz from 2014 until 2020, and Mitchell’s rapid development was Bryant’s ‘top priority‘ during that span. The two had a ‘great relationship‘ during their time together with the team.”

But the Jazz instead hired Celtics assistant Will Hardy, who worked with new Utah executive Danny Ainge in Boston.

(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

Donovan Mitchell grew up with Eric Paschall. They have a lifelong friendship and the two players were incredibly excited to be reunited on the Jazz last season.

Mitchell is also very close with longtime teammate Royce O’Neale. They attended basketball games together and even played video games with Ninja.

Here is what Mitchell said during a post-game interview in February when O’Neale was benched in the fourth quarter (via Salt Lake Tribune):

“You look at Royce after, he’s as excited as anybody,” added Donovan Mitchell, who is O’Neale’s best friend on the team. “I think that’s what makes this team so special, that’s what makes this group special. It can definitely be a ‘I’m just gonna sit and pout [situation].’ Royce didn’t do that.”

So clearly the organization would want to prioritize Paschall and O’Neale, right?

Within the first few days of free agency. Utah chose to not offer Paschall a qualifying offer. That made him become a free agent, effectively ending his time with the organization.

They then traded O’Neale to the Nets, which had especially curious timing.

Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports

All things considered, is this something we should be paying attention to right now?

I know that I mentioned Mitchell as a potential trade chip in a move for Kevin Durant. But perhaps this is even more realistic than we ever could have imagined.

Mitchell, who grew up near New York City and has long been rumored to want to return home, could be closer to family in Brooklyn. His father is an executive for the New York Mets, anyway.

I’d doubt KD wants to play in Utah, but it’s not exactly up to him. Maybe the Nets decide to just go for it and send Durant to the Jazz if it means they can get Mitchell, who is still only 25 years old, in return?

For what it’s worth, if the Nets were somehow able to pull this off, they would have to trade Ben Simmons (who finished ahead of Mitchell for Rookie of the Year in 2018). My colleague Mike Sykes explained why.

If that’s too complicated, maybe he wants to play for the Heat. If so, well, don’t be shocked to see the Jazz build around Tyler Herro.