Before leaving the NBA bubble, the Utah Jazz had already suffered one of their biggest personnel losses of the season. Assistant coach Johnnie Bryant was announced to be part of Tom Thibedou’s New York Knicks coaching staff.
Bryant has been a critical part of the high-level development of Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gobert, and Donovan Mitchell. Beyond the departure of Johnnie Bryant, the Jazz also lost VP of Player Personnel Walt Perrin to the Knicks earlier this year. The Jazz, who have an impressive record of player development, now have holes to fill in the department.
Dell Demps
On Friday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski announced Utah’s newest coaching addition, Dell Demps. Demps served as the GM of the New Orleans Pelicans for nine years and is now making the transition to coaching. While the move is surprising, Demps has been attending practices and meetings with Head Coach Quin Snyder and his Jazz staff since leaving the Pelicans GM position. The hiring brings a working reunion for Snyder and Dell Demps, who previously worked together in the San Antonio Spurs organization in their Austin G’League affiliate.
On top of over two decades of front office experience, Dell Demps also had an eight-year playing career. As a GM for the Pelicans, Demps made some impressive moves. Dell Demps was responsible for completing the potentially franchise-changing (barring injuries) trade for Demarcus Cousins. He also was responsible for the trade that brought Jrue Holiday to the Pelicans. Whether he is remembered for those trades or the GM that signed Omer Asik to a five-year deal, and the Chris Paul trade to the Lakers that was later shut down by David Stern, Demps hopes to make a mark as he sets sail on a new coaching journey.
Keyon Dooling
In addition to the Dell Demps hiring, it was announced that former NBA player Keyon Dooling will also be joining the Utah Jazz coaching staff in a player development role. Dooling also has connections with Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder, having played for him at the University of Missouri before his 13 year NBA career.
Both hires have huge shoes to fill in a department that the Jazz have recently excelled in—developing Rudy Gobert into a two time player of the year and first-time All-Star. Joe Ingles and Royce O’Neale also highlight the team’s list of player development success. Quin Snyder already has successful working relationships, and Utah has hopes that Dell Demps and Keyon Dooling will keep the Jazz as one of the leading teams in player development.
For more NBA coverage, click here.
