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Last September, Tony Jones of The Athletic, who had been covering sports in the state of Utah since 2008, started covering the Philadelphia 76ers. Due to finances, The Athletic can no longer fulfill its original dream of having a beat reporter for every professional team in North America, and since the small market Jazz were in the midst of a four-year playoff drought, it was only a matter of time that Jones was out the door. In November, KSL’s Ryan Miller was also on the wrong side of company-wide layoffs. He has since been hired by The Salt Lake Tribune as the new sports editor. And lastly, after 13 years on the Jazz beat, The Salt Lake Tribune’s Andy Larsen switched roles, leaving his seat at the Jazz’s press row for his own data column with the Trib As of Aug. 28, between KSL, Deseret News and the Tribune, the only full-time, dedicated Jazz beat reporters are Chandler Holt and Ben Anderson at KSL.
Sarah Todd: Joining in on a time-honored journalistic tradition — I’ve been laid off. So, it’s time for a notes app post… “I’ve been in Utah covering the Jazz for nearly seven years. My apartment was still in boxes when I was in OKC the night the NBA shut down at the start of the pandemic. To say that the beginning of my time covering this team was strange and disjointed is a bit of an understatement. But the challenge was incredible. Over the years here in Utah I have done some of my best work, found a community and friends that mean the world to me, and I met the love of my life. I wouldn't trade any of it for anything. Covering the Jazz the last four years has been its own interesting challenge, and I was looking forward to having a front row seat to the rise out of the rubble that is on the horizon. Jazz fans deserve to see this team soar after what they have endured. I don't know what is next, but I'm excited for what's to come. Huge thanks to those who have wrapped their arms around me, those who have followed along and read my stories, listened to the pod, and everything in between.”
Brad Rowland: After Antonio Lang was the head coach in Utah, the Hawks are turning HC duties over to Sanjay Lumpkin in Vegas. First time as a Summer League HC for Lumpkin.
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Shams Charania: Free agent center Mo Bamba has agreed to a two-year deal to return to the Utah Jazz, sources tell ESPN.
Jake Fischer: Walker Kessler, sources confirm, will be signed-and-traded from the Utah Jazz to the Los Angeles Lakers. Utah won’t be getting any players back in the deal, I’m told.
Tony Jones: The Utah Jazz have declined team options on Bez Mbeng and Hayden Gray, league sources tell The Athletic. Both will be with Utah in summer league, and the Jazz will further evaluate them during that period
Not much has changed for Cameron Boozer as he enters what should be a straightforward draft night. Sources say he visited Memphis last week and previously visited Chicago and Utah, covering all bases other than Washington. Although he is under consideration in Utah, where his father is part of the front office, rival teams believe the Jazz will have a hard time passing on Dybantsa or Peterson.
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Grant Afseth: Darryn Peterson recently met with the Utah Jazz before arriving in New York City for the NBA Draft, sources told @DALHoopsJournal. Peterson would welcome the opportunity to play in Utah if drafted by the Jazz. Read more on @DALHoopsJournal:
A gulf remains between restricted free agent center Walker Kessler and the Jazz after Utah put an offer worth roughly $140 million over five years on the table, sources told ESPN. It would be the largest contract ever given to a center who had yet to be an All-Star. The Jazz have the right to match any offer sheet that Kessler signs as a restricted free agent.
According to Tim MacMahon on Utah ESPN 700 Radio, Walker Kessler has received an offer from the Utah Jazz for a 5-year, $ 140 M deal, but apparently it wasn’t enough. MacMahon was asked if he thinks that Kessler wants to play in Utah, and he responded: “… for more than 5 years, $140M.” It also sounds like there are some real frustrations with how the Jazz have gone about his contract situation. Apparently, the Jazz feel that they can have any hurt feelings improve over time once the contract is signed.
![“He showed that star potential when Luka [Doncic] got …](https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/gcdn/content-pipeline-sports-images/sports2/nba/players/1121277.png?format=png8&auto=webp&quality=85,75&width=140)
