Utah Jazz editorial: Former asst GM Justin Zanik got Jay Leno’d by Bucks

Former Utah Jazz asst. GM Justin Zanik left the team to become the Milwaukee Bucks’ GM-in-waiting. One year later, he’s looking for a new job.

All the way back in 1991 (yeah, I’m old) late-night television staple Johnny Carson announced he would be retiring from The Tonight Show on NBC. With Carson riding off into the sunset, it was finally time for David Letterman, who had been innovating the format in the time slot behind Carson for a decade, to get his big shot.

Instead, Jay Leno came out of the ether to become the new host of the Tonight Show, leaving Letterman and his fans wondering just what in the heck had just happened. NBC essentially forced Letterman to leave the network, after which he finally got back onto our TV screens with the Late Show on CBS.

In other words, the obvious choice for the big job was passed over and discarded in favor of a total newb. It’s a scenario that former Utah Jazz assistant general manager Justin Zanik is now well familiar with.

After having left a Jazz organization that he was firmly entrenched with to become next in line to Milwaukee Bucks’ GM John Hammond, the Bucks pulled a fast one and instead opened up their search to outside candidates when Hammond left for the Orlando Magic. In the end, Zanik was passed over last week for Jon Horst.

It was a strange turn of events as the 34-year-old Horst wasn’t one of the initial interviewees for the gig. Nor was he on the shortlist of finalists as Zanik was. Moreover, The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Zanik had the support of Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry and head coach Jason Kidd.

Ultimately, that didn’t seem to matter. Wes Edens, another member of the Bucks’ ownership group, was never going to allow Zanik to assume control.

So, after leaving a solid, stable situation in Utah for a chance at advancing his career, as well as overseeing all of the Bucks’ draft preparations as this crazy GM search unfolded, Zanik was left with nothing.

In other words, dude got Jay Leno’d.

Now his future is uncertain. There are murmurs that he could join the Cleveland Cavaliers and assist Chauncey Billups, who has been linked with the team in the wake of former Cavs GM David Griffin’s firing non-renewal. Meanwhile, the Racine Journal Times’ Gary Woelfel reported that Zanik could return to Utah.

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In his time with the Jazz, Zanik was a key cog in the team’s front office machine. Leaning on his experience as 15-year player in the agent game, he assisted Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey in the areas of contract negotiation, salary management and scouting. He also ran basketball operations for Utah’s D-League affiliate.

In any case, the Bucks’ handling of the situation has been shameful. Deadspin put it best in their story about the debacle —

"Congratulations to the Milwaukee Bucks for hiring as GM the candidate who wasn’t even a candidate, and who no one in charge actually wanted."

As ever, it’s wild times in the Association.