Utah’s Danny Ainge says Jazz ‘didn't believe in each other’ as organization enters rebuild

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It’s been an offseason of change for the Utah Jazz, parting ways with their coach of eight years and trading both franchise cornerstones. 

The changes have occurred under Danny Ainge who became Utah's CEO of Basketball Operations in December 2021. 

Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz looks on during Round 1 Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks on April 28, 2022 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

Ainge is no stranger to shaking things up, trading Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce in 2013 as the Boston Celtics' president of basketball operations. So it comes as no surprise that Ainge is at the head of the rebuild in Utah, especially after what he witnessed during the 2021-2022 NBA season. 

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"What I saw during the season was a group of players that really didn't believe in each other," Ainge told reporters at a news conference on Monday, according to ESPN. "Like the whole group, I think they liked each other even more than what was reported, but I'm not sure there was a belief.

"When we got to the playoffs I thought, well this is a team that has had some disappointing playoffs, so I thought maybe they're just waiting for the playoffs. I gave them that benefit of the doubt, but it was clear the team didn't perform well in the playoffs again."

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In June, Snyder stepped down as head coach, saying that the team could benefit from a "new voice" after failing to reach the Western Conference Finals in Utah’s six