The Utah Jazz have hired Austin Ainge, son of Danny Ainge, as the President of Basketball Operations for the Utah Jazz.
The Utah Jazz are hiring Boston Celtics assistant general manager Austin Ainge as the franchise's president of basketball operations, sources tell me and @TimBontemps. Ainge has spent the past 14 years working in Boston's front office, including the last six in his current role. pic.twitter.com/OE0hG7R2qa
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 2, 2025
The Jazz held an introductory press conference today, where Ryan Smith sat down with Austin Ainge as they took questions from the media.
The press conference was an interesting one, in part because I’m not sure many people were expecting this change. Many of the questions centered on his role within the team. It appears he is the primary decision-maker moving forward (but then Ryan has to approve his decisions, so take that as you will).
Ryan Smith on Austin Ainge's role: "Austin will be running the program. He's got final recommendation to myself on any decisions that need to be made."
— Ryan Miller (@millerjryan) June 2, 2025
It’s an interesting change and will make this offseason especially interesting, especially when you consider the quote that came next.
When asked whether the Jazz will be tanking or manipulating lineups to lose games Ainge replied, “You won’t see that this year.”
It’s a quote that lit up Jazz fans online. Maybe the Jazz are going to do what they can to win right away? Ryan Smith’s body language is interesting with his smirk as the question was answered. Things will certainly be different now, the question is how different. It’s not like before when Dennis Lindsey was put out to pasture. Danny Ainge is still there. He’ll certainly have input, but it appears Austin Ainge is completely in charge of the Jazz's strategy/direction. There’s also the question of what is Justin Zanik’s input or is he mearly just managing the team in terms of contracts, facilities, and other front office staff? Maybe it’s as simple as that.
Quotes from today's Jazz presser, a thread:
Ryan Smith: "Austin will be running the program. He's got final recommendation to myself on any decisions that need to be made. I think it's the job of both Justin Danny and myself to kind of plug into him."
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) June 2, 2025
The question now is, how does the team move forward? Perhaps Ryan Smith and company are chomping at the bit to be in the same boat as non-tanking teams like the Chicago Bulls, the Sacramento Kings, and the Phoenix Suns. That certainly seemed the hope as the Jazz wasted two years floundering in the delusion of thinking they were anything more than a late lottery team. Or maybe they’d like to double down on contract and trade choices like sending a pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder to move off Derrick Favors’ contract? You know, the one that could go to the Thunder in a loaded upcoming NBA draft if the Jazz don’t fall to the bottom 8? Or contracts like the one they gave to Jordan Clarkson they’ve been unable to trade for the last three seasons. Or the near-max they just gave to Lauri Markkanen, making him even harder to move. I haven’t even mentioned the big game hunting hopes the Jazz had last offseason when they allegedly went all in on Mikal Bridges, then were hopeful to sign Paul George. Although, in fairness, Paul George, who was not good last year, did shoot better than Lauri Markkanen at 35% from three (Markkanen, whose primary skill is three-point shooting, shot 34% from three while making max money).
We’ll see how things go, but there is some attention to detail that needs added to this front office. The Jazz can enter this offseason and do things the right way by actually leaning into their youth movement, building them as a cohesive unit, and letting them develop together. Or they can continue this route of musical chairs with veterans who should never have received contracts in the first place.
One last thing, the funniest part of this, if the Jazz do start trying to make win-now trades, is that there likely won’t be one there. This is one of the most barren free-agent classes ever. The trade market will be crazy, and Utah would be smart to become a seller. They could reap the rewards by taking advantage of other visionless teams making mistakes. It may happen that way whether the Jazz like it or not.
This is all new, it’s the beginning of another new era of Jazz basketball ... again. I’m guessing this move didn’t happen overnight. I also think that Austin Ainge understands how to build a basketball team, and I’m always willing to give the new guy a chance. I justhope this sinking feeling that the Jazz are going to give a pick to the Thunder in a loaded draft because of impatience. Time will tell this offseason, but there’s a lot on the line for the Jazz’s new CEO.