How the Jazz head coaching vacancy impacts the Knicks — including Johnnie Bryant and Donovan Mitchell

A few notes/thoughts on the situation in Utah and how it may impact the Knicks…

It’s well known that Knicks associate head coach Johnnie Bryant and star guard Donovan Mitchell have a strong relationship, so Bryant will get consideration for the Utah Jazz’s head-coaching vacancy.

But Bryant’s relationship with Mitchell shouldn’t be viewed as the sole reason he’d be considered.

Bryant’s candidacy for the Jazz’s vacancy has support within the organization beyond Mitchell, per people familiar with the matter.

Several Knicks players, including RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Kemba Walker, have praised Bryant for his work in New York.

If Bryant is hired by the Jazz, it would be the third New York assistant to be hired for a head coaching vacancy in the past 15 months.

Mike Woodson was hired by Indiana University and Kenny Payne was hired by Louisville.

The Knicks, as SNY reported, are finalizing a deal to add Rick Brunson to Tom Thibodeau’s staff.

Bryant has an established track record in player development, but he has no head coaching experience.

Does that impact his candidacy for the job? Is he well-prepared for the position based on his time in New York?

Only Jazz owner Ryan Smith and top basketball executive Danny Ainge know the answer to that question.

It’s worth noting here that when the Knicks hired Bryant as associate head coach, he was viewed as being on the fast-track to a head coaching job by some involved with the decision.

In addition to Bryant, the other Knick-related dynamic here is Mitchell’s future.

ESPN reported that Mitchell was “surprised and disappointed” over Quin Snyder’s decision to step down. The report stated that Mitchell is “trying to process what the coach's loss means in the larger scope for the organization and himself.”

This is conjecture, not reporting, but I think it’s fair to assume that Mitchell will feel good about the larger scope of the organization if the Jazz hire Bryant as head coach.

However, if Utah decides to go in another direction, there will be plenty of speculation about Mitchell’s future in that scenario.

The Knicks, obviously, would be among several teams with strong interest in pursuing Mitchell if he decided to ask for a trade from the Jazz.

But Utah would be in position to demand a prime return in any Mitchell trade. He is under contract through 2024-25, with a player option in the next season. So the Jazz have leverage in the situation.

It’s fair to assume that the Knicks would have to include Barrett in any deal that landed Mitchell this offseason. That’s a compliment to Barrett, who is New York’s best proven asset in any trade scenario.

And the package to the Jazz – who weren’t thrilled to see Knicks executive William Wesley courtside during a playoff game – would have to include several other significant Knick assets.

The Knicks need to ask themselves this question before making a major offer to Utah: Would the remaining players on the roster – plus Mitchell – be able to compete in the Eastern Conference?

The Athletic first reported Bryant as a candidate for the Jazz coaching vacancy.