Jazz execs wanted to make sure the team kept Zanik, which helped result in his promotion to GMNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The Jazz recently promoted GM Dennis Lindsey to Exec VP/Basketball Operations and Assistant GM Justin Zanik to GM, and Zanik said that the promotions were "more reflective of the way the league continues to grow than of any need for institutional shake-up in Utah," according to Eric Walden of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. Zanik said, "It's more of a continuation of the evolution of an NBA organization. The league has become a huge property worldwide; the duties and responsibilities of running a billion-dollar-plus-valuation organization, those responsibilities become more varied and more extensive." Becoming GM "represents a career achievement for Zanik," but how those responsibilities "will change now, if at all, remains to be seen" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 5/12). In Salt Lake City, Andy Larsen noted top Jazz officials "wanted to keep Zanik around," so they gave him "what he wanted: a general manager title, with all that comes with it" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 5/11). THE ATHLETIC's Tony Jones noted Zanik has gone through a "long and winding road," as he began his career two decades ago as a player agent and "rose to the top of his profession." Zanik came to the Jazz at the "infancy of the current front office regime and established connections through the league." He has been "tenacious and aggressive, yet passionate and personally engaging." This promotion is "confirmation that he's done it the right way" (THEATHLETIC.com, 5/11).
JUST WIN, BABY: In Salt Lake City, Gordon Monson asked via Twitter poll whether Jazz fans would rather have a "team that wins a title" or one that they "really like." After more than 2,100 votes came in, the results were a "landslide," with 84% saying they would take a title winner and 16% wanting a team they "really like." Fans have "stood by their likable teams here for the better part of four decades -- with an empty championship trophy case." The Jazz "don't need any more good citizens," they need "good or not-so-good men who can hit the 3" (SLTRIB.com, 5/12).
