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Announced on Wednesday morning, the Utah Jazz will begin preparations for the 2022-23 NBA season with four preseason games.&nbsp;

Utah will kick things off with back-to-back road games, beginning with a trip north to face Toronto on Oct. 2 in Edmonton. They will finish out the road trip in Portland on Oct. 4

"We're excited to be featured in the preseason NBA Canada Series," said Jazz General Manager Justin Zanik. "It is a unique opportunity for our organization to engage with the league's Canadian fans in Edmonton. Our players and staff are looking forward to it."

The Jazz will return home to face San Antonio on Oct. 11 before wrapping up the preseason on Oct. 14 against Dallas in a rematch of last season's playoffs.&nbsp;

Broadcast and ticket sale information&nbsp;will be&nbsp;announced&nbsp;at a later date.

It's been an exciting offseason for the Jazz as they've got numerous new pieces coming into the fold season — most notably being head coach Will Hardy.&nbsp;

Just 34 years old, Hardy — replacing the departed Quin Snyder — was widely regarded in NBA circles as one of the young up-and-coming assistants in the league. With the hire, he becomes the ninth head coach in Jazz franchise history and the youngest active head coach in the NBA.

"Toughness, sacrifice, and passion are the three things that are most important to me," Hardy said. "I want our group to be deeply competitive and able to deal with adversity. I would like everybody to recognize that this is bigger than them individually. Everybody is going to have to get out of their comfort zone a little bit as we move forward."

His NBA journey began in San Antonio in 2010 as a video intern under the legendary Gregg Popovich. From 2013-15, he was the Spurs team video coordinator before being promoted to Popovich's coaching staff, where he also led San Antonio's summer league squads for four consecutive years.&nbsp;

"I couldn't be happier that Will has been given the opportunity to lead one of the finest programs in the league in the Utah Jazz," Popovich said. "His intelligence, ability to teach, and most importantly his manner, brings immediate respect from players, management, and staff. He's a competitive young man who understands the responsibilities of the position, and no one will work harder to continue the success the Jazz have enjoyed for so long."

He got his big break last season when he joined the Boston Celtics as a lead assistant for head coach Ime Udoka. He helped continue the development of the Celtics' big three Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart. A team that reached the NBA Finals for the first time in over a decade.

"Will has a great basketball mind," Udoka said. "I've watched his growth from our time together in San Antonio and throughout our season in Boston. He was an integral part of what we accomplished and will do great things in Utah."

The other significant change is that longtime Jazzman Rudy Gobert will no longer be patrolling the paint for Utah on a nightly basis.&nbsp;

CEO Danny Ainge and Zanik completed a trade with Minnesota that sent the three-time defensive player of the year to the Timberwolves in return for Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, the draft rights to Walker Kessler, future draft picks, and a draft swap.

Even with the roster changes, Ainge and Zanik have said that the retooling of the roster isn't over yet.&nbsp;

"We're still in free agency and the offseason, so we're going to look at every opportunity," Zanik said. "We still have a couple roster spots open and, obviously, the evaluation of Summer League and any other opportunities that come up to continue to do what we can to balance and improve the roster.

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"I Want Our Group To Be Deeply Competitive" | Utah Announces Four-Game Preseason Schedule

Jazz to kickoff preseason action in Edmonton, Alberta against Raptors on Oct. 2

The Utah Jazz have announced the team’s 2022 preseason schedule presented by University of Utah Health which features two home games at Vivint Arena and two games on the road. The Jazz preseason tips off in Edmonton, Alberta against the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. (MT) as part of the NBA Canada Series.

“We’re excited to be featured in the preseason NBA Canada Series,” said Jazz General Manager Justin Zanik. “It is a unique opportunity for our organization to engage with the league's Canadian fans in Edmonton. Our players and staff are looking forward to it."

The Jazz will continue their preseason road trip at Portland on Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. (MT), finishing up with a two-game homestand against San Antonio on Oct. 11 and Dallas on Oct. 14 with both games set to tip-off at 7 p.m. (MT).&nbsp;

Broadcast and ticket sale information will be announced at a later date.&nbsp;

Below is the complete 2022 Utah Jazz Preseason Schedule:

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Utah Jazz Announce 2022 Preseason Schedule

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a member of the Utah Jazz?&nbsp;

What are the rigors on the court? How much time do they spend in the weight room? What sort of food do they eat? What do they do for fun?

Thanks to the Utah Jazz, you can now find out.&nbsp;

From September 8-10, the Jazz are offering a fantasy camp to spend three days and two nights with Utah alumni, owners, top executives, and coaching staff.

Anyone over the age of 21 will be able to interact personally with members of the organization and intimately see what it's like to be an NBA player. The camp includes accommodations at the Grand America Hotel and participants will get to play on the courts at Zion’s Bank Basketball Camp, the team's practice facility.

Two former NBA all-stars who know what it's like to be a member of the Jazz are Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer — and they'll be in attendance throughout the fantasy camp. They'll put participants through drills, training, and contests — all while serving as sounding boards for those curious about life in the league.&nbsp;

Following a successful college career that included a national championship while at Duke, Boozer was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2002. After averaging 15.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game in his second year, Boozer became a restricted free agent — eventually agreeing to a six-year contract with the Jazz.&nbsp;

His first two seasons in Utah didn't go as planned, suffering a myriad of injuries that didn't allow the power forward to play to his full potential. But once healthy and entering his third year with the team, Boozer blossomed into an all-star.&nbsp;

He averaged a double-double (points-rebounds) over the next four years, including back-to-back all-star appearances. He ended his career averaging 16.2 points and 9.5 rebounds, which were upped to 19.3 points and 10.5 rebounds with the Jazz.&nbsp;

After starring at Illinois, Williams immediately became Utah's point guard of the future and Boozer's running mate after being drafted No. 3 in 2005. Following a rookie season in which he went back and forth from the bench to starting, he broke out the following year by averaging 16.2 points and 9.3 assists in leading the Jazz to the Western Conference Finals.

He followed that up with four straight seasons of averaging a double-double (points-assists), earning two all-star nominations with the Jazz during that time. Williams finished his career with averages of 16.3 points and 8.1 assists per game — upping those numbers to 17.3 points and 9.1 assists in his six seasons with Utah.&nbsp;

Not only will those in attendance have the opportunity to be coached by these legendary Jazzmen, but they will also be able to speak with owner Ryan Smith and GM Justin Zanik. They'll also participate in a roundtable with Utah coaches, discussing the game's finer points and the upcoming season.&nbsp;

Among the other highlights include an NBA Combine Testing session, lunch prepared by team chef Anthony Zamora, and an evening at TopGolf with Williams, Boozer, and other personnel.

The three-day event has a jam-packed schedule — beginning with a check-in at the Grand America Hotel on Thursday, and ending with a pictures and autographs session with Boozer and Williams on Saturday.

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"Life in the League" | Utah Jazz Fantasy Camp 2022

Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) and the Utah Jazz today announced the appointment of Caroline Klein in the newly created position of Chief Communications Officer, effective Aug. 1.

Her responsibilities include strategic communications in public relations, community relations and broadcasting along with coordination of large-scale marketing initiatives through all the company’s platforms. Other duties involve government relations and crisis communications as a public-facing representative of the Jazz in the community.

“Caroline will be a tremendous addition to our executive team with her skills and experiences. She will work as a highly visible representative of the Smith Entertainment Group with business leaders, community partners, diverse media outlets, and local government officials,” said Jim Olson, SEG and Utah Jazz president. “She has a gift in storytelling that inspires action and builds communities. Her leadership ability will be invaluable in elevating the impact of the Jazz.”

With more than 15 years of strategic communications experience on domestic and international levels, Klein joins the SEG executive team after 10 years with the Preferred Hotel Group in Newport Beach, Calif., which manages and operates six travel and hospitality brands including Preferred Hotels &amp; Resorts. Culminating in the CCO role, Klein built and evolved the company’s public relations, social media, and corporate communications functions, orchestrating multiple extensive global marketing communications campaigns and serving as a key executive on new brand launches and pivotal rebrandings.

Previously, Klein worked at several PR agencies in New York City and Chicago, specializing in travel and hospitality. She holds a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University.

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SEG and Utah Jazz Appoint Caroline Klein as Chief Communications Officer

Following the passing of NBA legend Bill Russell on Sunday, Utah Jazz CEO Danny Ainge released a statement regarding Russell's influence on the game basketball and in Ainge's life.

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"I Will Always Remember His Laugh" | Utah CEO Danny Ainge Releases Statement Regarding Bill Russell

In a day and age where position-less basketball is becoming more and more of the norm, it appeared apparent that the Jazz wanted to shore up their wing depth. They also had a firm strategy of getting younger, longer, and more athletic regarding its overall roster, particularly on the wing.

Score another victory for new head coach Will Hardy and co.

Announced on July 27, Utah signed European forward Simone Fontecchio — a sharp-shooting athlete with great size who could make an immediate impact this upcoming season.

Here are five things to know about Utah’s latest addition:

1.) The Man Can Play BallIt might seem obvious since Fontecchio has signed a contract to play in the NBA, but make no mistake, he can flat-out play basketball.

Through 70 games (53 starts) in the ACB and EuroLeague last season, he averaged 11.8 points, 4.40 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting 41.2% from beyond the arc. He shows advanced skill with the ability to pass, dribble, and shoot at every level — proving why he’s been on NBA radars for the last few years.

At 6-foot-7 and a sturdy 200+ pounds, Fontecchio has the sort of size and skillset that’s highly coveted in today’s game. He’s also more athletic than often given credit for, allowing him to take advantage offensively while translating positively to the defensive side of the game.

2.) No Stranger To Big StageAt 26, Fontecchio is a little older compared to players experiencing the NBA for the first time — but that doesn’t mean he’s a stranger to the big stage.

He 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.

It was during the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo that he really broke out for Italy. He averaged 19.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 assists in four games while shooting 45.5% from three-point territory. He showed improved skill play on offense and held his own defensively against some of the best players in the world.

3.) Decade Of Pro BallAlthough he’s just now making his way into the NBA, Fontecchio has played professional basketball since he was 16.

A native of Pescara, Italy, he 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.

Playing against grown men for the past decade has allowed Fontecchio to deal with the physicality he should expect in the NBA.

4.) Idol Is A Jazz LegendThere haven’t been many success stories of an international player making his mark in the NBA at the age of 26 or older — but one name definitely comes to mind.

Joe Ingles started in the NBA at 27 and became a major success story for his offensive abilities. He was regaled in Utah for being able to shoot the three, run the offense, and talk trash with the best in the game.

Ingles’ success was not lost on Fontecchio, who at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo let it be known that he considered Ingles one of his basketball idols.

Following a game between Australia (Ingles) and Italy (Fontecchio), Ingles was told about Fontecchio’s admiration — and in the most Ingles of ways, had a phenomenal response.

“I’m who’s idol? He needs a better idol,” Ingles said with a smile. “I’d never seen him play before. Watching the scout for the last game and obviously playing against him tonight, we were just Googling where he played this year. … I’m surprised that he is not in one of the biggest teams in Europe.”

Instead of stopping there, Ingles kept going on about Fontecchio’s game.

“He’s a really good player — aggressive, especially on the offensive end. … Finding his shot and obviously shooting a high percentage as well.”

5.) Third Italian In The LeagueCurrently, only one player of Italian descent is in the league — sharpshooting forward Danilo Gallinari, a new member of the Boston Celtics.

But that number is now expected to triple once the season starts.

Paolo Banchero, the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, will debut for the Orlando Magic. And now, Fontecchio will be suiting up for the Jazz.

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Five Things To Know About Utah's Newest Overseas Addition: Simone Fontecchio

The Utah Jazz have signed forward Simone Fontecchio (sim-OWN-ay fawn-TEK-ee-oh). Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

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.&nbsp;

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.

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Utah Jazz Sign Simone Fontecchio

The Jazz traded Rudy Gobert for a haul of draft picks. According to ESPN Radio’s Alan Hahn, it stalled the market - well that and Kevin Durant, reportedly, being available for a trade.&nbsp;

So, how valuable are first rounders if teams are so willing to part with them?

“I always call draft picks, 'The Currency of Hope' because you don’t know what they are,” Hahn said. “…A player is a real thing. You already know what he is. A draft pick is simply the cash to get a player. But it’s how you spend that money - you can spend it wisely or you can spend it foolishly - and that is also the determining factor. So a draft pick’s value is in the eyes of the beholder. It’s in what I can do with this pick versus what actually is right now.”