Danny Ainge

Ryan Kostecka

For anyone wondering what Utah's expectations were for the season, Danny Ainge made it abundantly clear Tuesday night.

"We want to be in the playoffs. … Let's get there," Ainge said during his annual season media availability.

While Ainge's proclamation may seem odd considering the goal for nearly every team in the NBA is to make the postseason, the reality is that 14 of the 30 teams in the league fall short every season.&nbsp;

When you factor in the questions surrounding the Jazz, the overall talent and depth of the Western Conference — and the fact that Utah owes a top-10 protected first round pick to Oklahoma City in the upcoming draft — it wouldn't be shocking if the goal for the season was something other than the postseason.&nbsp;

Yet that couldn't be further from the truth. And it's not just Ainge saying so.&nbsp;

"That's the goal. … That's what we're trying to work towards," Lauri Markkanen said. "That's really one thing that I'm looking forward to, getting on that stage and really experiencing that."

"We're going to come at the season like we did last year, with a really high competitive spirit," head coach Will Hardy said. "We're trying to win every night. … Whether that results in us making the playoffs or play-in, so on and so forth, we'll find out."

The good news for the Jazz is that they're starting things off on the right foot and with the right man leading the way.&nbsp;

Ainge was very complimentary of Hardy, noting the growth he's seen from a rookie coach last year to one who looks much more comfortable entering this season.&nbsp;

"I think Will has been great," he said. "I think the things he's learning are just the things you would learn as a head coach. Being a head coach is different than being an assistant coach. … All those things are things you have to learn as a head coach, and he's doing that."

Markkanen also echoed Ainge's sentiments, noting the biggest difference between last season and this one is the level of comfort between coach and star player.

"Once you get comfortable with somebody, you can talk about different things," Markkanen said. "It's been more open once we got that year under our belt and kind of know each other. … That definitely helps, and now we can really talk about anything."

As somebody who has won an NBA title as a player and executive, Ainge knows what is needed and what it takes to climb that mountain. It's why the team, armed with many assets, is not afraid to take a big swing if necessary.&nbsp;

"I believe that a lot of players can play in any system, but a lot of them need to be a right fit," he said. "I think that's a question we always ask, 'How does he fit in with us?' Some players fit in better with certain teams and have more opportunities with them. … And some teams need a specific player's expertise and greatness."

Whether or not Ainge and the Jazz pursue trades throughout the season, the end goal stays the same. But even if they come up short, it doesn't mean the season was a failure.&nbsp;

"There are different ways to measure success," Ainge said. "Last year, my expectations weren't super high, but they overachieved because of how they played and how they grew as a team."

"I think there are a lot of factors that go into success," he added. "We want to make the playoffs, we're going to set out to do that. … But there are different ways to measure success."

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“In The Playoffs” — Ainge Reiterates Postseason Goal During Annual Press Conference

When the Utah Jazz entered the offseason last April, fans had more questions than answers.

Fast forward one year later, and when Utah GM Justin Zanik and CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge sat in front of local media for their annual end-of-season media availability, the organization was once again faced&nbsp; with the unknown.&nbsp;

Except, instead of concern, there was hope — and fun.

"Yeah, this is gonna be fun," Ainge laughed. "We have a lot more draft picks, more money to spend. … A shopping spree. This will be more fun, much more fun than last year."

After the season Utah just had, overachieving by nearly every standard, the Jazz had already answered many questions.&nbsp;

"We thought that this season would be a journey, a season of discovery," Zanik said. "We got to find out a lot of different things about our players, things we really needed to know as we try to open up a championship window. The flexibility we were able to create for now and going forward, along with all the ability to go and target different things, that can take form in many different ways."

The Jazz now have limitless opportunities to accomplish the organization's&nbsp; ultimate goal.

"The optionality that we've created with the roster, the possibilities are endless," Zanik said. "There's just multiple ways for us to continue to move forward with this team, and continue to try to open that championship window. … There could be a lot of change this summer."

Regardless of the team surpassing expectations, Jazz brass recognizes they will need more to reach the top of the mountain. The good news is that they will have three first round draft picks to use in June to help with some of their needs.&nbsp;

"We weren't a very good shooting team at the end of the year. … We need to get better defensively," Ainge said. "Those are the two areas of focus."

Just because they have three picks and a&nbsp; healthy amount of cap space to fill in some gaps, it doesn't mean that the Jazz will put all their stock into this summer. Instead, they will wait and see what/who becomes available and go from there.&nbsp;

"We're not going to put a timeline on it because the very next thing is always the most important thing. … It's just a continuous timeline of us trying to make really good decisions," Zanik said.

"You guys aren't the only ones asking us when we're going to be good, how good we're going to be this year," Ainge added with a smile. "We get asked that question by Ryan (Smith) all the time. … He's anxious to spend his money, and we're anxious to spend it."

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"Season Of Discovery" | Justin Zanik And Danny Ainge Express Optimism As An Offseason Of 'Fun' Approaches

Jeremy Rincon

Jazz general manager Justin Zanik and CEO Danny Ainge meet with the media at the end of the season and talked about which players with options could potentially return, how they approach the draft and looking forward into the off season.

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Justin Zanik and Danny Ainge

It’s a rarity in the NBA that a trade between two teams ends up being a win-win scenario for both organizations.&nbsp;

However, the Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers have proven that it’s possible.

In a trade that sent three-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland in exchange for Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, and Ochai Agbaji, (as well as future first round picks, and future first round draft swaps) the Jazz and Cavaliers have maintained a vibrant confidence and positive outlook for how it turned out.&nbsp;

“Ochai, Lauri and Collin are exciting young players, and we’re thrilled to add them to our roster,” Jazz General Manager Justin Zanik said last September. “We believe that they fit the Jazz culture and hard-nosed, competitive brand of basketball we’ve built here in Utah. They give us versatility and athleticism on both ends of the floor as we grow toward the future. We look forward to our fans getting to know them.”&nbsp;

In a few short months since attaining official status as a Jazzman, Markkanen has emerged as a bonafide All-Star and is having a career season with the Jazz.&nbsp;

Markkanen is averaging 24.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. He’s one of two players in the league to be averaging 20+ points per game on 50% shooting from the floor (53%) and 40% shooting from three (41.6%) — Steph Curry is the other.&nbsp;

After undergoing season-ending knee surgery during last season with the Cavs, Sexton has come back with a vengeance and firmly supplanted himself as a significant part of Utah’s future plans. A lightning quick guard who is Utah’s best one-on-one player, he’s third on the team with 14.1 points and 2.9 assists in 24.1 minutes per game.

Lastly, Agbaji has emerged over the past week with back-to-back career games against Houston and Chicago. After putting up 11 points against the Rockets, Agbaji dropped 19 points on 7-of-7 shooting (4-of-4 from deep) against the Bulls.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, since moving to The Land, Mitchell has catapulted the Cavaliers to its current status as one of the best teams in the NBA – fourth place in the Eastern Conference with the league's sixth-best overall record.&nbsp;

The play of everyone involved in the trade and the steps forward they’ve all taken are further proof that both teams can win when making deals with one another.&nbsp;

That's why when Mitchell makes his much-awaited return to Vivint Arena on Tuesday night, he should be showered with cheers and applause by Jazz Nation when his name is introduced in the starting lineup.

“Once a Jazzman, always a Jazzman. We honor the amazing five seasons Donovan gave the Jazz and the incredible contributions he made to the Utah community,” owner Ryan Smith said. “He will always be part of the Jazz's legacy, even when he is wearing another jersey as our competitor. I look forward to seeing every fan join me in a standing ovation as Donovan returns to Utah for the first time of many over the course of his career.”

Traded to Utah during the 2017 draft night, Mitchell emerged as one of the best players in the history of the organization during his five years with the team. His accolades are inarguable, as he is one of only two players from his draft class to be named an All-Star in three of their first five seasons. (Boston's Jayson Tatum is the other.)

While in Utah, he averaged 23.9 points, 4.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game on 44.1% shooting from the floor and 36.1% from three-point territory. During his time with the Jazz, Mitchell collected many career accolades, including a rookie season where he won the 2018 Slam Dunk contest and was named First-Team All-Rookie. He was also named the Western Conference Player of the Month in December 2021.

Quickly climbing up the franchise record books, Mitchell ranks No. 8 in points scored (8,234), No. 4 in points per game (23.9), No. 2 in made three-pointers (958), No. 9 in minutes per game (33.7), No. 8 in assists per game (4.5), No. 9 in steals per game (1.3), and No. 2 in usage percentage (31.4).

For postseason totals, he ranks No. 4 in points (1,073), No. 7 in assists (175), and No. 9 in steals (45). He also owns the Jazz’s all-time single-season three-point record, knocking down 232 during the 2021-22 season.

Throughout his five seasons in Utah, Mitchell played in 345 regular season games (337 starts) and 39 postseason games (all starts). When Mitchell was on the team, the Jazz compiled a 218-127 record (.632 winning percentage), while advancing to the playoffs each season.

“We did a lot of great things there. … We did not accomplish our main goal,” Mitchell told reporters after Cleveland’s game in Phoenix Sunday night. “I don’t know what the response is going to be, and I am hopeful there will be cheers. Like I said, I had a lot of positives despite not winning a championship. …That is not easy and only one team does it. At the end of the day, we played well, and we had great groups of coaches.”

While his on-court success with the Jazz can never be diminished, what Mitchell did in communities across the country and throughout Utah is where his legacy as a Jazzman will last forever. With a heart as big as his superstar status, Mitchell has championed social justice and education, using his platform to speak out against racism and inequity.&nbsp;

More than anything, he backed up his words with generosity.&nbsp;

He pledged $12 million to Greenwich Country Day (his alma mater and the school where his mother taught for over a decade). He gave all the proceeds from sales of his Adidas basketball sneakers D.O.N. Issue #2 x Louisville (up to $200,000) to provide scholarships and academic initiatives for black students at the University of Louisville.

For his community service and philanthropic commitments, Mitchell was awarded the Offseason NBA Cares Community Assist Award for his work in summer 2020.

While Mitchell was sensational for Utah for reasons on and off the court, it’s rare for a player – especially an All-Star – to stay with a team for their entire career.&nbsp;

Now the Jazz not only have a team battling for a playoff spot in the competitive Western Conference, but also are armed with more assets moving forward than any other team in the league. The front office has done everything possible to give new head coach Will Hardy the best chance at succeeding in the future.

"It was clear that in order to optimize our opportunity to create a team that could truly contend and establish sustained success, we needed to transition our roster,” said Jazz CEO of Basketball Danny Ainge during the summer. “In trading Rudy (Gobert) and now Donovan, it was a rare opportunity to maximize our ability to get quality talent and picks to best position us moving forward. We have a plan in place to help us assemble the championship team our fans deserve. It will take time to craft our roster. We all understand the work ahead and are committed to our vision."

While Mitchell's departure undoubtedly left a hole in the hearts of Jazz fans everywhere, his legacy has continued to live on. He'll forever be a Jazzman.&nbsp;

45. Spida. Donovan. Thank you. It's been an honor.

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“Once A Jazzman, Always A Jazzman" | Jazz Excited To Welcome Donovan Mitchell Back To Utah

Tuesday was quite the morning for the Utah Jazz.

Just hours after the Jazz announced a multi-year contract extension for general manager Justin Zanik, Utah owner Ryan Smith and CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge met with local media to discuss the contract extension, thoughts on the upcoming season, and answer questions about the new-look squad.

Before the media session could fully get underway, Smith and Ainge both gave their thoughts on the contract extension for Zanik, a role he’s been in since 2019.&nbsp;

“I think Justin has been someone who’s been pretty instrumental since I got here,” Smith said. “He’s got a unique skillset in the league, spent a lot of time building relationships. I think that within our group, you want as many perspectives around the table. … It’s fun to come into work, and JZ is a big part of that.

“Ryan said most of it,” Ainge added. “He’s (Zanik) been great, and it’s been fun working with him. He’s got a lot of connections around the league. … He’s very well-respected in the NBA, and internally as well.”

While Zanik preached excitement as the central theme for the Jazz moving forward — especially with new head coach Will Hardy, a core group of young players, and multiple assets — Ainge also expressed that patience will be required from everyone.

“It’s called patience,” Ainge said. “I’m excited to work with Will (Hardy) this year, and I think the objectives that we have are pretty clear in our conversations as we prepare to go forward. But I really want to see him grow as a coach, and I think that this is an amazing opportunity for him.”

While many around the league expect the Jazz to be among those in the running for the top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Smith and Ainge weren’t ready to make that proclamation. 

In fact, they stated the exact opposite.&nbsp;

“My expectation is for us to compete at a very high level, night in and night out,” Ainge said. “I’m really anxious to see the people, the players that have a commitment that we could really want to invest in going forward.”

That way of thinking perfectly aligns with Hardy’s ‘Team 49’ approach.&nbsp;

“We know who we have," Hardy said. "This is the 49th team in Jazz history. … That’s our focus, team 49. There’s a collective toughness. We have a lot of guys that have a chip on their shoulder. … I think that’s really powerful to have guys that are competitive and feel like they have something to prove.”

Armed with a new contract for the GM, a young and exciting head coach, an intriguing blend of youth and veterans on the team, and more assets than one could count, it’s clear the future is as bright as ever for the Jazz moving forward.

“I’ll tell you one thing. ... Our team, Salt Lake, the group, and the city, we are not mailing it in,” Smith said. “That would be an easy thing to do. … But the team has been working tirelessly.”

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"It's Called Patience" | Smith And Ainge Express Optimism For The Future

Justin Zanik is staying in Salt Lake City.

Announced on Tuesday morning, Zanik agreed to terms with owner Ryan Smith and CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge on a contract extension as general manager of the Jazz. While full details were not released, the extension is for multiple years.

“Justin’s basketball acumen, ability to create meaningful relationships throughout the league, and management of our front office are invaluable assets,” Ainge said. “We’re thrilled that he’ll continue to lead the team.”

Not only does the contract extension secure Zanik's stature in the league for the foreseeable future, but it also allows him to see through a plan that he started this past offseason — beginning with the hiring of rookie head coach Will Hardy.

"As our search committee went through this process, Will really separated himself among a group of extremely talented candidates," Zanik said of Hardy in June. "We're eager to get to work with him as we continue our pursuit of bringing an NBA championship to Utah."

Zanik and Ainge had a busy offseason that drastically changed the future of the organization with five trades this past summer — two of which included Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.&nbsp;

Gobert, the three-time defensive player of the year, was sent to Minnesota in exchange for Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Leandro Bolmaro, the draft rights to Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt, future draft picks, and a draft swap.&nbsp;

Mitchell, the three-time All-Star, was traded to Cleveland in exchange for guards Ochai Agbaji and Collin Sexton, forward Lauri Markkanen, future first round picks, and future first round draft swaps.

Once among the oldest teams in the NBA with limited assets, the Jazz are now among the youngest teams in the league with many assets — allowing Zanik the opportunity to fully execute the plan currently in place.

Those two trades, along with ones that sent out Royce O'Neale and Bojan Bogdanovic, have reignited a flame in Utah's future that was once considered dim.&nbsp;

“My family and I have fallen in love with this great city and the state of Utah, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to continue this journey with the Utah Jazz,” said Zanik. “I have a deep appreciation for my partnership with Ryan and Danny and am excited about our path forward with Coach Hardy. We look forward to building towards winning the championship our fans deserve.”

After graduating from Northwestern in 1998 with a degree in economics, Zanik immediately began his future working in basketball.&nbsp;

He was a certified agent for the National Basketball Players Association from 2003-13. He served as ASM Sports vice president for over a decade, overseeing all aspects of management for ASM's basketball clients.

Zanik got his big break in the NBA in 2013 when he was hired as assistant general manager of the Jazz, working side-by-side with then-GM Dennis Lindsey. He then took the same role with the Milwaukee Bucks for the 2016-17 season before returning to the Jazz in the same capacity the following year.&nbsp;

He was hired as Utah's general manager in May 2019, immediately making an impact by signing Bogdanovic and trading for All-Star point guard Mike Conley that summer. He also brought over Jordan Clarkson in a trade in December 2019, setting the stage for Utah's success in the past few seasons.

Justin and his wife, Gina, have three children: Ava, Oskar, and Lucy. Gina Zanik is co-founder and executive director of Rare and Undiagnosed Network (RUN), which raises awareness and funding for rare and undiagnosed diseases. The cause is very personal for the Zaniks, and, together, they launched a RUN NBA initiative in 2015.&nbsp;

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"I Am Extremely Grateful For The Opportunity" | Justin Zanik Agrees To Contract Extension With The Jazz

For Kelly Olynyk, it's deja vu all over again.

After being drafted in 2013 and traded a few weeks later to the Boston Celtics, Olynyk was excited to be a part of a team with major championship aspirations.&nbsp;

Headlined by then-GM Danny Ainge, Boston underwent a massive overhaul that summer, trading future hall-of-famers Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce for an unprecedented number of draft picks. They also hired Brad Stevens, a first-time head coach, to lead one of the most storied franchises in league history.&nbsp;

What entailed was a rebuild of epic proportions that eventually paid off as the Celtics are now one of the premier teams in the Eastern Conference and perennial title contenders.&nbsp;

It should because that's the blueprint for Utah's future — and Olynyk is going through it again.&nbsp;

"It's crazy because when I got drafted by Boston, we were almost in the exact same situation with Danny that they're in here right now," Olynyk said. "You have some older guys with experience, you have some young guys, you got a bunch of draft picks coming in for the next few years, and you're just trying to get better every single day, whatever that is.&nbsp;

In Boston, we had a young first-year coach in Brad [Stevens], and now we have a first-time, young head coach in Will [Hardy]."

When Olynyk was initially traded to Utah last week in exchange for Bojan Bogdanovic, many skeptics were asking why a player entering his 10th season in the NBA would be coveted by a team entering a rebuild of sorts. 

But upon further inspection of his resume, it's clear that Olynyk coming to the Jazz is a perfect fit for both sides.&nbsp;

"I'm excited. … I'm excited to be here, and I'm excited to be a part of this out here," Olynyk said. "I love the people they have in the front office. I think they have a great direction and plan in place in where they want to get to and want to go, and how to get there. … I believe in them."

One on end, Olynyk is widely regarded as one of the best mentors in the NBA, a veteran who's been through it all and shows younger players how to be successful. He's been through this exact situation before, knows what to expect, and how to positively navigate the trying road ahead.&nbsp;

On the other end, he's a 6-foot-11 center capable of stretching the floor and passing the ball. He's a tough-nosed defender who fully believes and buys into team concepts, a trait heavily desired in the league. 

"Kelly is a really versatile player," Hardy said. "He's obviously been around the NBA for a while, so he has a lot of just sort of corporate knowledge of how to play in the NBA. He's a really smart, skilled basketball player. … He can play in a couple of different positions on the floor, and just provides us with a lot of intelligence."

For those that may be questioning the Jazz and what the future may hold, Olynyk has a simple message for them. It may take time, but the people leading the way are the ones you want out in front.

"In any business, overnight successes don't actually happen overnight, right? It takes work, it takes time, little building blocks," he said. "He (Ainge) knows what he's doing. … He has been around the game for decades."

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"I Believe In Them" | Veteran Olynyk A Perfect Match For New-Look Jazz

Angie Treasure

Utah Jazz general manager Justin Zanik and CEO of Basketball Danny Ainge addressed the media Monday morning to recap the organizations’ recent offseason moves and preview plans for a bright future. 

After finishing the 2021-22 season with a 49-33 record and a defeat by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs, the organization moved on from All-Stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell in trades with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Cleveland Cavaliers, respectively. With new head coach Will Hardy at the helm, Ainge said it was “unanimous that this was the direction we needed to go.”

The offseason was a time to achieve some concrete goals, Zanik said, including establishing flexibility, filling the roster with young players and creating a cache of assets going forward so that “we can reach the ceiling that we want to get to, and that’s win a title.”&nbsp;

The Donovan Mitchell trade brought in three young players who fit the aforementioned bill: Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen and Ochai Agbaji, players Zanik touted as high character and hard workers.

“Collin is a proven player,” said Zanik, and though Markkanen isn’t in-market because he’s currently playing with the Finnish National team in the FIBA tournament (and dropped 43 points on Sunday!), “we’re really excited to have him come be part of our program.”

Agbaji—the 6’5” rookie out of Kansas—was drafted 14th overall by Cleveland before coming over in the Mitchell trade. “His character and hard work I think will translate really, really well [in the NBA],” Zanik said.

In addition to being complimentary of the young guys on the roster, the Utah Jazz GM talked about the energy in the building as the young players roll into the facility.&nbsp;

“There’s this really good vibe and excitement in the gym,” he said. “It’s a really good work environment. It’s a really good place to come to work.”

There is work yet to be done when it comes to finessing the roster, Zanik and Ainge admit. There are 17 contracts on the books currently and will need to be trimmed to 15 before the season opens.&nbsp;

Watch the press conference in its entirety here.

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Zanik, Ainge tout “good vibe and excitement” surrounding Utah Jazz roster

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