Utah Jazz notes: Mitchell/USA Basketball buzz, Hornacek to the Lakers?

A new report has Donovan Mitchell as one of the official invitees to USA Basketball’s World Cup training camp. Also — an unsavory Jeff Hornacek rumor.

Earlier this week, Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell‘s name was floated as a potential addition to USA Basketball’s senior national team in advance of the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China. Now, it would seem, there’s legitimate fire to go with the smoke.

On Wednesday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on several names likely to be part of an 18-man training camp in early August, from which the final, 12-man roster for World Cup competition will be derived. As expected, Mitchell’s name was among the invitees.

The Jazz’s leading scorer over the last two seasons will join James Harden and Eric Gordon of the Rockets, Anthony Davis of the Pelicans, the Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, Bradley Beal of the Wizards, the Cavaliers’ Kevin Love, the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez of the Bucks, the Spurs’ LaMarcus Aldridge, the Pistons’ Andre Drummond, and Kyle Kuzma of the Lakers, per Woj.

Meanwhile, the Rockets’ P.J. Tucker and former Jazzman Paul Millsap have also been reported as potential invitees.

Mitchell’s inclusion here is no guarantee he’ll be making the trip to China; in 2014, Gordon Hayward was invited to camp ahead of the FIBA Worlds, but was not selected for the final roster. However, as a star on the rise in the Association, there’s a chance Utah’s alpha dog could become a key cog for the national team for the next several years.

The 2019 FIBA World Cup of Basketball tips off on August 31 and will run through September 15.

Jeff Hornacek to the LA Lakers?

On Tuesday, Woj reported that the LA Lakers are looking to add former Memphis Grizzlies headman Lionel Hollins to their bench as part of Frank Vogel’s staff. The belief is that the Lakers are prioritizing head coaching experience in assembling their staff; their first move was to add Jason Kidd to the bench.

Now, it would seem a certain Jazz legend could be on the Lake Show’s shortlist to round out the staff. Per the New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy, Jeff Hornacek is a name to keep on eye on as the process unfolds.

While the Jazzland masses undoubtedly wish the best for Hornacek in his ongoing coaching career, I’d wager that the very notion of him on the sidelines for the dreaded purple and gold is a major turn-off for the brunt of them.

I, for one, would be lying if I said the idea didn’t make me somewhat queasy.