Jazz G Donovan Mitchell and C Derrick Favors were asked for input on the team's Papa John's decision NBA/GETTY IMAGES
The Jazz have "notified Papa John’s Pizza of their intent to end their relationship with the company" after "over a decade" of partnering with the chain, according to Tony Jones of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. The Jazz "took some time to make a decision." Sources said that the club "didn’t want to make a knee-jerk move" and "didn’t want to punish local Papa John’s franchises, which were caught in the middle of the controversy, through no fault of their own." Sources said that the organization "sought opinions from players" such as G Donovan Mitchell and C Derrick Favors. Coaches and key members of the organization also were "given a voice in the matter." In the end, the Jazz "couldn’t separate" Papa John’s from Founder John Schnatter’s comments (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 7/20). In Utah, Ryan McDonald cites sources as saying that the Papa John's-Jazz deal "will expire" before the '18-19 season. Meanwhile, the Univ. of Utah is "also considering severing ties with the pizza chain" (DESERET NEWS, 7/20).
STILL BAKING: The Heat on Thursday said that the team "remains 'in a holding pattern' regarding their marketing and promotional partnership" with Papa John's. A Heat spokesperson said the team's deal with the chain is "handled locally and, 'we don't want to penalize local ownership and the employees who live in our community'" (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 7/20).
