Report: Jazz 'Committed to Building Around' Donovan Mitchell
In the aftermath of the Utah Jazz's disappointing exit from the Western Conference playoffs, all eyes have turned to the future and what it might hold for Donovan Mitchell and even Rudy Gobert. For months, there have been rumblings that another early playoff exit could see the Jazz blow it up.
Not so fast.
While the Jazz are still in the infancy of the offseason, an early report from The Athletic's Tony Jones has the team closing ranks around Mitchell with no intention of moving him.
That isn’t the plan, according to several sources — at least initially. The Jazz, according to sources, are committed to building around Donovan Mitchell, which means taking a step back isn’t an option. Utah would like to keep climbing the mountain toward contention, and the Jazz feel like they still aren’t that far off, despite the disappointment of this season.
Talent-wise, the Jazz aren't that far away from competing for a championship. The team's biggest issue seems to be of a spiritual nature.
This team lacks the killer instinct. When the chips are down, Mitchell has not displayed that crucial will to win that separates the game's true greats from the 'stars' of the NBA.
Jones went on to wager that there's "no way" the Jazz will run it back with this roster next year. There could be a couple of changes to the starting-lineup players.
But based on what Jones is hearing, the Jazz aren't trying to move on from Mitchell or blow it all up and start over. Jones is quite plugged in but this is one report in the immediate aftermath of a painfully disappointing playoff exit.
When it comes to the Jazz offseason rumor mill, we're just getting started.
Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen.
