Utah Jazz Make Bold Move, Snatching Austin Ainge from Celtics in Surprising Leadership Shakeup

When the Utah Jazz announced Austin Ainge as their new president of basketball operations this Monday, it stirred more than a little buzz. Sure, he’s Danny Ainge’s son—a fact that naturally raises eyebrows—but team owner Ryan Smith was pretty clear this isn’t just some “nepo baby” gig. Austin’s got the reins, making the final calls with the backing of GM Justin Zanik and his dad. After 17 years climbing the ranks with the Celtics, including grabbing a championship ring in 2024 as assistant GM, Austin faces a vastly different beast in Utah. The Jazz are deep in rebuild mode, sporting some promising young guns but miles away from playoff contention, coming off the NBA’s worst record last season. Veteran players like Lauri Markkanen and John Collins might be moving parts soon as the front office plots a course forward. When probed about tanking, Ainge was straight-up—no intentional losses this year, because hey, there are plenty of roads to success beyond just snagging the No. 1 pick. Utah’s fanbase, used to glory days from Sloan’s era through the Mitchell-Gobert years, definitely craves a spark. It’s up to Austin to unearth that next cornerstone and reignite the hope. LEARN MORE

While he is the son of Utah Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, team owner Ryan Smith wanted to make sure everyone understood that this was not some nepo baby hire. (Quote via Andy Larson of the Salt Lake Tribune.)Austin Ainge is the Utah Jazz’s new president of basketball operations, the team announced Monday. “You know, it’ll just depend on how these guys develop and what other moves we make, right? It’s a hard thing to predict. I think it’s fair to say we got a lot of work to do.”Ainge takes over a very different franchise in a very different position in Utah. The Jazz are rebuilding, and while they have some interesting young talent — including Isaiah Collier, Keyonte George, Kyle Filipowski, and Walker Kessler — they are a long way from being a playoff team. Utah had the worst record in the NBA last season, but fell to the No. 5 pick in the draft lottery. This roster also features some solid veterans who could draw trade interest this offseason, such as Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Collin Sexton. Ainge was diplomatic when asked how far the Jazz are from the playoffs.Utah may not tank, but in a ridiculously deep West where very likely at least 13 teams will go in thinking playoffs-or-bust, it could be another rough year for Jazz fans, especially if they pivot more to youth. It’s a fan base accustomed to some level of success, dating back to the Jerry Sloan-coached Malone/Stockton teams, through the Donovan Mitchell/Rudy Gobert era. It’s a fan base that wants to believe.

“You won’t see that this year… If you look at the playoffs and look at all the best players in the NBA, and how many of them went No. 1 — it’s better to have number one, but there’s a lot of other stars that came from all over the draft … it’s not the only way to do it.”However, when asked about tanking he was more direct.“Austin will be running the program. He’s got final recommendation to myself on any decisions that need to be made. I think it’s the job of both Justin (Zanik, Jazz GM) and Danny and myself to kind of plug into him.”It just needs a reason to hold on to hope. The Jazz have a strong player development history and a well-respected coach in the recently extended Will Hardy, but they need that player to anchor their future around. It’s now up to the younger Ainge to find that guy.
Austin Ainge spent 17 years with the Celtics, working in various basketball-related positions, and has been the team’s assistant general manager for the past six years. He earned a ring with them in 2024.