NBA Rumors: David Fizdale Joining Jazz Front Office After Stint as Lakers Assistant
The Utah Jazz are hiring David Fizdale as an associate general manager, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The move comes on the heels of the Jazz identifying Will Hardy as the successor to Quin Snyder, per Wojnarowski.
Fizdale was linked with the Jazz's head coaching vacancy during their search. NBA insider Marc Stein reported June 6 there was an expectation that Dwyane Wade, a minority governor for the team, would lobby on Fizdale's behalf.
The 48-year-old worked with Wade as an assistant for the Miami Heat before getting his first shot as head coach with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2016. He subsequently moved on to the New York Knicks before most recently working under Frank Vogel with the Los Angeles Lakers.
SNY's Ian Begley first reported on June 25 the Jazz were interviewing Fizdale for a front-office gig, which shifted a change of gears.
Wojnarowski reported he will "work closely" with Jazz general manager Justin Zanik and CEO Danny Ainge, but it's unclear what his duties will specifically entail.
Perhaps this signals Fizdale's desire to move upstairs rather than continue working on an NBA sideline.
He joins the Jazz in what's likely to be a pivotal offseason for the organization. Not only did a third first-round exit in four years set the stage for Snyder's departure, but it could also spell the end of the Donovan Mitchell-Rudy Gobert partnership in Salt Lake City.
