NBA Rumors Roundup: Utah Jazz willing to discuss a trade for 3-time All-Star, Portland Trail Blazers looking at All-Star level guards and more | 8th June, 2022

Utah Jazz All-Star center Rudy Gobert could be on the trading block in the offseason. [Photo: Hoops Habit]

Rudy Gobert's time in Salt Lake City could come to an end if the Utah Jazz can find a deal worth doing in the NBA offseason. This is the latest trade rumor coming from Utah following coach Quin Snyder's departure.

The Portland Trail Blazers could finally land the NBA All-Star they’ve long been wanting to pair with Damian Lillard. They will look to add a potent threat and are considering multiple options. Bradley Beal and Zach LaVine are two names to watch out for in the coming months.

Utah Jazz CEO Danny Ainge did everything he could to convince Quin Snyder to stay, but could not do so. Utah “desperately” wanted to keep Snyder, but was rebuffed when the longtime head coach decided it was time to move on.

The Utah Jazz are willing to part ways with Rudy Gobert, but not with Donovan Mitchell

After years of frustrating NBA playoff success and with Quin Snyder stepping down as head coach, the Utah Jazz are facing a season of uncertainties. CEO Danny Ainge could make some significant changes to the roster to change their form in the postseason.

Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer had an interesting analysis of what the Utah Jazz could do regarding the Gobert-Mitchell partnership:

“The Jazz have been one of the more active teams during early offseason trade conversations in recent weeks, most notably featuring All-Star center and three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert."

An intriguing trade concept of Nikola Vucevic and Patrick Williams for Rudy Gobert was often repeated in conversations with league personnel on Monday. More on the Utah Jazz after Quin Snyder’s departure from the franchise @BR_NBA: bleacherreport.com/articles/10037…

"Utah has not entertained rival teams' overtures to steal away All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, sources said, but the Jazz front office has engaged various teams in Gobert discussions.”

The Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors are supposedly two of the teams who have shown interest in the French international. Gobert has been a key part of Utah’s success in the NBA but has been controversially limited in the postseason.

Donovan Mitchell, on the other hand, is still just 25 years old and already a three-time NBA All-Star. The Jazz may see more upside in keeping the shooting guard and letting go of Gobert.

Zach LaVine and Bradley Beal are potential candidates to partner Damian Lillard as Portland Trail Blazers build towards title contention

Bradley Beal [right] and Zach LaVine are reportedly names the Portland Trail Blazers are interested in. [Photo: Wiz of Awes]

The Portland Trail Blazers have vowed to build around Damian Lillard. Portland made their intentions known when they practically cleaned the house. They carried out several trades that included trading CJ McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor duly pointed out these possibilities in his report:

“Bradley Beal and Zach LaVine are potential targets, according to sources…He [Beal] could make his way to Portland via as a free agent or via trade.

"Though Beal and LaVine present similar defensive issues as CJ McCollum did next to Lillard, either of them would undeniably make the Blazers better with their shot-creation.”

Bradley Beal and Zach LaVine are "potential targets" for Portland to pair with Damian Lillard, per @KevinOConnorNBA https://t.co/Vbf86fcdbV

Zach LaVine is an unrestricted free agent and could still end up with the Chicago Bulls, who can offer the most money to the dunk artist. LaVine, however, has publicly expressed his desire to make the most of NBA free agency before committing to any team.

Anfernee Simons hit 185 three-pointers in just 58 games last season. He was also trailing only Steph in threes made for about half the season. You DO NOT give that up with the number 7 pick up for someone like Beal or Lavine #ripcity

Head coach Chauncey Billups would also have to make a tough decision on Anfernee Simons, who carried the Blazers without Lillard and then McCollum. If either Beal or LaVine find their way to the Pacific Northwest, Simons could be an unfortunate casualty.

The Utah Jazz did everything they could to keep former head coach Quin Snyder

Quin Snyder stepped down as the head coach of the Utah Jazz after eight seasons. [Photo: TSLT]

The Utah Jazz left no stone unturned in trying to keep longtime former coach Quin Snyder. In the end, everything CEO Danny Ainge threw at him didn’t matter. Snyder felt like it was time to leave Salt Lake City after eight NBA seasons.

Here’s what Ainge had to say in a press conference, on Snyder’s decision to vacate the Utah Jazz head coaching post:

"And I think it's pretty clear, we desperately wanted him to stay. And at the same time, I've walked away from coaching and I walked away from being a general manager after 18 years in Boston, and so I trust that Quin knows more about what's best for him and his family, much more than we do."

Jazz 'desperately wanted’ Quin Snyder to return as head coach, Danny Ainge says

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Quin Snyder, who was hired by the Utah Jazz in 2014, brought the team to the playoffs in his third year. The Jazz were regular-season juggernauts for most of Snyder’s tenure in Utah but couldn’t lead the team to more success in the playoffs.

I'm guessing Quin Snyder takes a year off and then replaces Gregg Popovich in San Antonio. This is a thought I've shared on recent episodes of @FrontOfficeShow.

Snyder, who has deep ties with the San Antonio Spurs, could succeed Gregg Popovich on the Spurs’ bench when the five-time champion retires.