The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Donovan Mitchell could attract premiere talent to SLC

By Ryan Aston

LOS ANGELES CA - FEBRUARY 16: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the U.S. Team addresses the media during the 2018 Mnt Dew Kickstart Rising Stars Challenge Practice as part of 2018 All-Star Weekend at the Verizon Up Arena at the L.A. Convention Center on February 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES CA - FEBRUARY 16: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the U.S. Team addresses the media during the 2018 Mnt Dew Kickstart Rising Stars Challenge Practice as part of 2018 All-Star Weekend at the Verizon Up Arena at the L.A. Convention Center on February 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Just over a half-season into his rookie campaign Donovan Mitchell has already become a cornerstone piece for the Utah Jazz program.

Throughout the years, one of the biggest sources of angst for Utah Jazz fans has undoubtedly been free agency. Although the team has enjoyed more than its fair share of success since moving to Salt Lake City nearly four decades ago, it hasn’t always attracted the top players on the open market.

With Donovan Mitchell’s lightning-fast ascent through the Association’s hierarchy, however, those times could be changing for the Jazz band.

Given Gordon Hayward’s departure from the franchise last summer, a segment of Jazz Nation has been understandably nervous about Mitchell’s future in Utah beyond his rookie deal. But there’s a growing sense among hoops pundits that the high-scoring guard is more likely to attract talent to the team than leave in search of it.

The Salt Lake Tribune’s Tony Jones put the Jazz’s chances of keeping Mitchell in town at 100 percent in response to a Twitter question.  Former HoopsWorld editor and NBA analyst Bill Ingram served up the “and one” with the notion that Utah could become a destination for talent thanks to Mitchell.

For his part, Jones agrees. There’s no denying the fact that Mitchell has caught the attention of the NBA’s elite either. Damian Lillard, LeBron James, Chris Paul and DeMar DeRozan are just a few of the names to shout him out this season.

That’s a list that’s growing all the time, too.

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Does that mean LBJ is going to ditch Cleveland for the red rocks and snowy peaks of Utah this offseason? Probably not, but there’s no denying the pull that star power and a winning program can have when it comes to acquiring top-notch players. Even in a small market like Salt Lake City.

The San Antonio Spurs may be the best example of this. Their run may be winding down sooner rather than later, but they’ve been able to reload and remain in the league’s upper crust for two decades thanks to future Hall of Famers Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and a star coach in Gregg Poppovich.

With Mitchell and All-NBA center Rudy Gobert in town, as well as an innovative coach in Quin Snyder, Salt Lake could become the new San Antonio if all goes according to plan.

At the least, Jazz fans shouldn’t be sweating Mitchell’s hypothetical exit. Thanks to the tenets of rookie contracts and restricted free agency, he’s more or less a lock to remain a Jazzman for at least seven years. And don’t be surprised if the franchise tries to lock him up to a long-term max extension after year three.

In the meantime, the Jazz are on a winning track with Mitchell and Gobert on the roster. And that could be enough to draw other big-name ballers into the fold.

Next: Jazz notes: Exum on TMZ, Williams-Goss wins national cup

Bottom line — it’s good times in Jazzland.

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