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The Utah Jazz have found themselves dead in the middle of a majority of NBA rumors in the past 24 hours. Huge announcements have practically forced the franchise into complicated positions and the Jazz will have a lot to address very soon.
Utah were already in a complicated position considering the deteriorating state of their superstar duo. However, Quin Snyder's decision to step down has triggered a lot of responsive action from the Jazz.
Additional rumors also feature a former NBA player signing a huge deal to play overseas and an All-Star potentially re-signing with his team in the offseason.
With plenty of information to cover, let's get into the latest NBA rumors as of 6 June, 2022:
Donovan Mitchell "unnerved" by Snyder's departure
A major rumor coming out of Utah after Quin Snyder's departure was Jazz superstar Donovan Mitchell's reaction to the situation.
Snyder occupying the head coach role was a major reason for Mitchell signing his contract extension with Utah. The 25-year-old is reportedly unnerved by Snyder's decision.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that Mitchell was "unsettled, unnerved and wondering what it means for the franchise's future." Wojnarowski also mentioned that the Jazz superstar was "surprised and disappointed" with Snyder's decision.
There were some positives, however, as Mitchell accepted the former head coach's reasons for departing the franchise. But the overall situation remains negative regardless.
Considering the degree of influence Snyder had in ensuring Mitchell stayed in Utah, the side may feel the ripple effects of the former coach's departure.
There will be several interested suitors for a player of Mitchell's quality and the Jazz may see their superstar demand a trade.
Utah begins their search for a head coach
With a difficult situation at hand, the Utah Jazz will have to fill in some major personnel absences quickly during the offseason. There is still plenty of time to go before next season begins, but several names have already popped up as potential head coaches for Utah.
Given that the choice of head coach could have a direct impact on Utah's future with Donovan Mitchell, the Jazz revealed the initial list of candidates for the job. The list included Johnnie Bryant, Alex Jensen, Terry Stotts, Will Hardy and Adrian Griffin.
Of the candidates mentioned, Stotts and Bryant are the only two with prior experience in the head coaching position in the NBA.
Stotts, a former Portland Trail Blazers coach, has become a recurring name for several teams, most recently being linked to the LA Lakers.
Jazz reject all trade offers for Donovan Mitchell
Considering the recent buzz around Quin Snyder's departure, the rumors surrounding the Jazz' superstars being separated has garnered more traction. Unfortunately for other teams, Utah has explicitly rejected all trade offers for Donovan Mitchell in the upcoming offseason.
As reported by Tony Jones of The Athletic, the Utah Jazz have made their desire to retain their superstar abundantly clear. However, there seems to be some room to navigate these waters. Jones said:
"The only thing that could pry Mitchell from the Jazz at this point is a monstrous offer."
While this is suggestive of Utah's interest in retaining Mitchell, trading him for higher value isn't completely out of the question.
The situation itself is quite complicated considering the 25-year-old's concerns with the team's direction after Snyder's departure. His relationship with Rudy Gobert has also made headlines this season and the Jazz opting to retain Mitchell could be suggestive of a potential trade for the Frenchman.
The rumors seem to be constantly brewing in Utah and a lot more could come out of Salt Lake City in the near future.
Michael Beasley to join Shanghai Sharks
Following his most recent stint with the LA Lakers in 2018, Michael Beasley is eyeing his return to professional basketball. He has signed a seven-figure deal with the Shanghai Sharks and is set to play in the CBA in the upcoming season.
Beasley had a relatively successful NBA career, but his last two seasons with the Lakers and the New York Knicks didn't yield much success. Having fallen out of the league, the 33-year-old was seen putting his skills on display at the Las Vegas Summer League with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Beasley was close to making a comeback during the NBA Bubble as well. He trained with the Brooklyn Nets, but unfortunately missed his chance to play after contracting COVID-19.
Beasley has spent a lot of time since then in training and has expressed his desire to return to the NBA. However, he will kick off a new journey with the Shanghai Sharks next season.
Zach LaVine intends to stay with Bulls
Zach LaVine has featured on multiple NBA rumors as a free agent target for several teams. As one of the premier guards in the league, LaVine has attracted a lot of attention from other teams. However, as per Brian Windhorst of ESPN, the Bulls star intends to stay in Chicago.
When discussing the matter on his podcast, the Hoop Collective, Windhorst said:
"I don't think Zach LaVine wants to leave. That's not my read."
The situation is a bit odd. LaVine wanted to test free agency in 2018, but because of his status as a restricted free agent, he ended up re-signing with the Chicago Bulls. That season, he went on to make the playoffs and even became an All-Star.
In the upcoming offseason, however, LaVine will be an unrestricted free agent. There is plenty of demand in the market for superstar caliber players and the 27-year-old may look to test the waters for his worth.
LaVine is expected to sign a contract worth over $29 million a year and it will be interesting to see which teams emerge as takers for the Bulls star.
Guess the Lakers players!
