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SALT LAKE CITY — Credit Quin Snyder for refusing to get pinned down on the one issue that is perplexing much of the Utah Jazz fan base.
Speaking for about 45 minutes at his postseason press conference Monday, the coach did not publicly commit to return for a ninth season. Snyder's shrewd statement adds more fuel to the potential of him stepping down rather than fulfill the reported last season of his contract.
"I continue to maintain that I am not going to discuss my contractual situation publicly," he said. "It's not something I want to do or am comfortable doing."
The non-answer to the only question that really mattered came a few minutes into his remarks, leaving him to pontificate for another half hour or so on the team's disappointing season that culminated in a first-round exit in the playoffs. Without a commitment to coach the Jazz next season, the remaining responses to the subsequent questions seemed to ring hollow.
It's possible he has stated to team management a desire to remain with the team but prefers to keep it private. But it would have been nice to satisfy the curiosity of a great fan base that he complimented liberally to conclude his press conference.
If Snyder leaves for another NBA coaching job or otherwise, his comments on the Jazz going forward don't matter nearly as much. At the same time, it was noble to go before reporters only days after his second hip surgery.
To its credit, management has gone public wanting Snyder to return. It's also possible there's a little posturing going on with the intent to send a message to potential replacements that team executives will back the head coach.
"I don't know how I can make it any more clear," general manager Justin Zanik said the day after the Dallas Mavericks dispatched the Jazz. "Quin Snyder is one of the best coaches in the NBA. There's no other partner that I would rather have as a coach, a leader of our players and a partner in the front office than Quin Snyder."
There you go, the bosses evidently want Snyder back. But he chose not to return the love at his first public opportunity.
As such, we get to speculate on Snyder's future with the Jazz and other possibilities. Several reports have centered on his interest in the Los Angeles Lakers and vice versa.
Less than two years after winning the NBA championship when the playoffs were held in Orlando, Florida, the Lakers fired Frank Vogel last month after failing to qualify for this postseason. With a veteran-heavy roster led by LeBron James, team management likely would have serious interest in a coach the caliber of Snyder.
Respected around the league, Snyder has coached the Jazz into the playoffs in six seasons. He touted as much, along with having the third best regular-season record over the last five seasons, during his press conference.
"But I'm not hanging on my hat on that," he said. "We want to do more. We want more."
Snyder has indicated at best a lukewarm interest in the Lakers job, apparently not excited about the drama that comes along with the position and seems to follow James and teammate Russell Westbrook. Nobody has ever questioned his intelligence.
Other reports have Snyder interested in coaching the San Antonio Spurs, having coached their organization's G League team. The 73-year-old Gregg Popovich has coached the Spurs since 1996.
Here's where it gets tricky for the Jazz. If Snyder is intent on replacing Popovich whenever he retires, Jazz leadership ought to force the issue immediately.
This point is especially true if the roster has a major makeover during this offseason. There's no reason for Snyder to coach a new group of players for a limited time.
