Amid the reverberations of Quin Snyder’s departure after eight seasons as the Utah Jazz coach, All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell is described as “unsettled, unnerved and wondering what it means for the franchise’s future,” sources told ESPN on Sunday.
Mitchell considered Snyder a significant part of his reasoning for committing to a five-year maximum contract extension in 2020, and Snyder’s decision to step away on Sunday has left Mitchell “surprised and disappointed,” sources told ESPN.
Mitchell remains fond of Snyder and accepts his reasons for stepping down, but Mitchell is spending the immediate aftermath of Snyder’s decision trying to process what the coach’s loss means in the larger scope for the organization and himself, sources said.
Utah is expected to commence a coaching search immediately, sources said.
Snyder had a .623 winning percentage over the past six seasons, third best in the NBA, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. He was 372-264 (.585) in his eight seasons with Utah.
Mitchell, a two-time All-Star, reached the Western Conference playoffs in each of his five seasons and became the first guard since Allen Iverson to average 20 points in each of his five campaigns, according to ESPN Stats & Info data.
Snyder, the second-winningest coach in franchise history behind Jerry Sloan, had forged a strong relationship with Mitchell and co-star Rudy Gobert.
The Jazz reached the Western Conference semifinals twice in the past five years but were eliminated in the first round this past season. The Jazz have planned to be aggressive in improving the team in the trade market this summer.
Mitchell has four years and $135 million left on his contract, including a player option on the final season.
Source: ESPN
