Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder talks to protect Donovan Mitchell (45) throughout the sport in opposition to the Orlando Magic at Vivint Area in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. Mitchell, now with Cleveland, shared his ideas concerning the Jazz group. Spenser Heaps, Deseret Information
Following the press convention Wednesday through which he was launched as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, former Utah Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell made an look on “The Woj Pod” with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The primary a part of their dialog centered on Mitchell’s 5 seasons with the Jazz. Listed here are some highlights.
On new Jazz head coach Will Hardy
“I actually like Will. He’s going to do an outstanding job over there (with the Jazz),” Mitchell stated.
Mitchell recounted how he and Hardy, who had a earlier relationship from time spent with USA Basketball, have been in open communication all through the summer season, and so they have been truly collectively at Mitchell’s dwelling in Connecticut when information of Rudy Gobert getting traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves broke.
On the Jazz’s entrance workplace
As he did in an interview Wednesday with ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Mitchell rejected the notion from Jazz CEO of Basketball Danny Ainge that Utah gamers had misplaced perception in one another final season.
Mitchell additionally stated he informed the entrance workplace after final season ended that he wished to attempt to make issues work on the court docket with Gobert.
“We got here into the offseason (and) there have been ideas about individuals shifting, however we didn’t suppose it was going to be this, Mitchell stated. “We have been like, ‘How can we return and construct this? How can we work and determine it out?’
“Clearly our time and our clock had run out, however I wouldn’t say that we didn’t consider in one another. I don’t suppose that’s honest after six months (of Ainge being with the group).”
On Quin Snyder’s departure
“Quin was the man that in the end put the ball in my hand and form of allowed me to develop to be who I'm at the moment. I’m ceaselessly grateful for him,” Mitchell stated, including that he and Snyder have spoken often all through this summer season.
“When you may have a man like Quin leaving a state of affairs, it’s like, ‘OK, what’s actually going to occur?’ I had no clue. I had no clue what subsequent 12 months regarded like, not to mention 4 years (the size of his contract). ... I believe for me, dropping a man like Quin because the chief, as our coach, that was massive for me, simply not figuring out what to anticipate subsequent and easy methods to go about it into coaching camp and whatnot.
“That was powerful, however I at all times beloved Quin. I appreciated Quin. Quin’s going to get one other job wherever. He’s going to do an incredible job, however in the end he wanted a break.”
On what went fallacious for the Jazz
Mitchell stated the 8-second violation he dedicated towards the tip of Sport 1 of the Jazz’s 2020 playoff collection in opposition to the Denver Nuggets nonetheless eats at him. The Jazz took Video games 2, 3 and 4 earlier than dropping the following three video games and the collection, and he wonders what may need occurred had they received Sport 1.
It's how the Jazz misplaced to the LA Clippers within the second spherical of the 2021 playoffs that he stated was an actual turning level for the franchise, nonetheless.
“I believe the Clippers loss was what actually modified issues for us as a gaggle,” he stated. “I may inform you proper now I consider in Mike Conley, I consider in Bojan (Bogdanovic), I consider in Rudy, I consider in (Jordan Clarkson).
“I may sit right here and inform you that proper now, however in the end it didn’t work. Generally that simply occurs. It simply doesn’t work. All the things occurs for a cause.”