Utah Jazz executive vice president of basketball operations Dennis Lindsey is transitioning to an advisory role for the franchise, the team announced on Sunday.
Lindsey joined the Jazz in 2012, serving seven years as general manager and two as the executive vice president, overseeing the franchise’s rise from a rebuilding team to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference this season.
The most significant moves of his tenure include the hiring of head coach Quin Snyder and the draft-night trades to acquire franchise cornerstones Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.
“In recent years, I have had conversations with the Miller family and then Ryan Smith when he came on board about moving into an advisory role,” Lindsey said in a statement, referring to the Jazz’s previous and current owners. “This is an appropriate time to make the transition with the organization on such solid footing.
“I am proud of the progress we have made in raising our level of competitiveness in the Western Conference. … I look forward to making contributions to the Jazz in a different way, while enjoying more time with my wife Becky and our four children.”
Justin Zanik, who was promoted to general manager in 2019, will continue in his role overseeing the Jazz’s day-to-day basketball operations. Sources told ESPN that Smith, who purchased the Jazz in 2020, is expected to use Lindsey’s departure as an opportunity to see where Utah can strengthen a front office that has traditionally been lean in numbers.
Lindsey finished second in Executive of the Year voting this season, when the Jazz had the NBA’s best record and a roster that featured three All-Stars (Gobert, Mitchell and Mike Conley), the Defensive Player of the Year (Gobert) and the Sixth Man of the Year (Jordan Clarkson).
The Jazz made the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season and advanced to the second round for the third time in that span.
“Dennis Lindsey has had an incredible impact on the organization, and we are grateful for his dedication to the Utah Jazz,” Smith said in a statement. “We look forward to his contributions as an advisor to the Jazz and to Justin Zanik’s ongoing leadership as general manager. As an organization, we are committed to continuing our pursuit of excellence and will relentlessly work to achieve sustainable success and win championships.”
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon contributed to this report.