Exit Survey: A huge offseason awaits for the Utah Jazz

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 08: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz pumps up teammate Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz during the fourth quarter at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 08, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 08: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz pumps up teammate Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz during the fourth quarter at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 08, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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Utah Jazz
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – APRIL 08: Head coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz looks on during the second half of a game against the Phoenix Suns at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 08, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

A huge offseason awaits for the Utah Jazz: 3. Don’t fire Quinn Snyder

In Quinn Snyder, the Jazz have one of the best head coaches in the league. Too often it is the person in charge on the bench who becomes the fall guy. It is why we won’t be surprised if Doc Rivers is let go by the 76ers this offseason, and explains why Frank Vogel was deemed surplus to requirements to the Los Angeles Lakers, despite leading them to a championship in 2020.

Getting rid of Snyder would be the easy thing to do in order to shake up the group moving forward, but no matter what, the Jazz should steer clear of this. Even if they happen to blow it all up and go into a full-on rebuild (which seems unlikely), Snyder should still be the guy who leads this group for the next number of years.

What is more likely, though, is the Jazz taking a step back through trades or simply from falling down the Western Conference pecking order. Even still, Snyder is their guy. He had them as the best offensive team in the league during the regular season (116.2), and third overall in net rating (6.2).

Those who say that these are regular season numbers that did not translate to bigger playoff success have a point, but there’s still a lot to be said for that level of stability and consistency throughout the regular season. The Jazz very much have a system in place, and it works because of their stars, but also gives role players a chance to thrive and have a real say in how the Jazz play.

They only need to look at another team in the East to see that keeping a head coach no matter what can pay huge dividends. Erik Spoelstra has seen it all in his 14 years as head coach of the Miami Heat. Some bad seasons, but also championships alongside LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Right now, he is in the Eastern Conference Finals and made the Finals in 2020 as well. All of which is to say, it doesn’t matter if the Heat are contending or reloading (they don’t rebuild in the conventional sense). Spoelstra is the ever-present coach at the helm. The Jazz need to do the same with Snyder.