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Ainge: Jazz 'really didn't believe in each other' last season

Alex Goodlett / Getty Images Sport / Getty

After trading away two superstars in the offseason, Utah Jazz CEO Danny Ainge gave some insight into why his club needed to begin a dramatic rebuild.

Speaking at an offseason update press conference Monday, Ainge described last season's iteration of the Jazz as a group of players who "really didn't believe in each other."

"I think individually they have resolve. I just don't believe that collectively they did, so we saw a lot of players trying to do it on their own," Ainge said. "The belief in one another wasn't as great as other teams I've been on and around."

It's been a dramatic summer for Utah after trading away All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell and three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. The franchise picked up seven first-round picks and three additional pick swaps between the two deals.

The Jazz finished fifth in the Western Conference with a 49-33 record last season but bowed out in the first round of the playoffs in six games against the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas was without superstar Luka Doncic for the series' first three contests.

Utah's made the playoffs in six straight seasons - almost entirely with the core of Mitchell and Gobert - but has failed to make it past the second round in each campaign.

"When we got to the playoffs, I thought, well, this is a team that's had some disappointing playoffs and maybe they're just waiting for the playoffs," Ainge said. "And so I gave them that benefit of the doubt. But it was clear the team did not perform well in the playoffs again."

With the Jazz committed to building draft capital and unloading their veteran pieces, other proven contributors such as Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Jordan Clarkson could be on the move before the season begins.

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