Like other franchises with their superstars, the Jazz decided to put everything in place so that Donovan Mitchell be as comfortable as possible on and off the pitch. Acknowledged by the biggest stars in the NBA, Mitchell is the most “bankable” player in Utah, and big names like Dwyane Wade and Danny Ainge have decided to join the young owner Ryan Smith to make it an NBA stronghold. . A page turned in Salt Lake City after the takeover of the franchise, and like a Stephen Curry at Golden State or a LeBron James at the Cavaliers, management wants to build around him, and do everything so that the interested party does not look elsewhere.
ESPN thus recounts that during the summer of 2021, the leaders multiplied the gestures and the recruitments to seduce their star rear. First, the entire contingent, including Dwyane Wade, traveled to his home in Connecticut to take stock of the past season and discuss the future. Then there was a departure, that of Mike Elliott, the person in charge of physical preparation and health in Utah. Officially, the person concerned decided to pursue other opportunities outside of the franchise explained the management.
In fact, according to ESPN, Mitchell no longer had confidence in him, and he blamed him for handling his sprained right ankle in April 2021. To replace him, the Jazz brought in Murphy Grant, who became the personal physical trainer by Mitchell. A former fitness manager at Wake Forest, Grant had met Mitchell, his mother and one of his agents.
Then the Jazz recruited Irv Roland, who personally looked after James Harden at the Rockets. Mitchell also worked with him during the summer, and Roland became part of Quin Snyder’s staff. He is the one who takes care of Mitchell’s preparation before each game.
Then the Jazz decided to take over the salary of Mitchell’s bodyguard, Frank Donalds. Finally, at Mitchell’s request, the Jazz recruited his friend Eric Paschall from the Warriors. The Jazz parted ways with a second-round draft to accommodate Mitchell’s suggestion.
So many elements put together to create a real cocoon around Mitchell, who has at least three years left on his contract, with an option for a 4th. Which suggests that if the management had to make a choice between him and Gobert this summer, it is rather Mitchell who would be kept.
| Donovan Mitchell | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | UTH | 79 | 33 | 43.7 | 34.0 | 80.5 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 20.5 |
| 2018-19 | UTH | 77 | 34 | 43.2 | 36.2 | 80.6 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 23.8 |
| 2019-20 | UTH | 69 | 34 | 44.9 | 36.6 | 86.3 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 24.0 |
| 2020-21 | UTH | 53 | 33 | 43.8 | 38.6 | 84.5 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 26.4 |
| 2021-22 | UTH | 67 | 34 | 44.8 | 35.5 | 85.3 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 25.9 |
| Total | 345 | 34 | 44.1 | 36.1 | 83.3 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 23.9 | |
