Top Jazz Reporter Drops Critical Opinion On Danny Ainge's Alleged Mismanagement

The Utah Jazz appear to be in NBA limbo right now. One of the team's top reporters put the onus on its top executive Danny Ainge.

Ainge, who previously ran the Boston Celtics, was hired by the Jazz in 2021 to serve as its CEO of basketball operations.

A year later, Ainge facilitated the team's teardown of the team's roster, which featured All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.

The Jazz got a war chest of draft capital from shipping out both stars in 2022, with the Mitchell trade also netting the team Lauri Markkanen.

But as things stand, the Jazz seem to be going nowhere fast. Over the last two seasons, Utah hasn't been good enough to make the playoffs. Nor do they have a bad enough roster to be amongst the bottom-dwelling teams chasing a top pick.

In an opinion piece published earlier this week, renowned Jazz reporter Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune was critical of Ainge over what he claimed to be the executive's poor management of the team.

"The only way that strategy makes sense is if you quickly add talent and escape mediocrity. The Jazz never really had a chance to do that other than via hope and prayer

Hoping a star the likes of George chooses to move to Utah? Praying Luka Doncic gets mad at his management in Dallas? Hoping a competitor the likes of Jrue Holiday will prefer a trade to Utah over the chance to win a championship with Boston? Praying the league keeps their bids for Bridges low?

It’s been wishcasting, not good management."

The Jazz have finished 12th in the West in each of the last two seasons.

Amid an offseason filled with Lauri Markkanen trade rumors , only time will tell if Ainge's grand plan for the Jazz will actually pay off.

Related: Lauri Markkanen Linked To 2 West Teams For Potential Blockbuster Trade