This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Utah Jazz have suffered a big blow to their front office.
The Milwaukee Bucks will hire Jazz assistant general manager Justin Zanik as the team's GM-in-waiting, The Salt Lake Tribune has confirmed. The news was first reported by the Yahoo sports site The Vertical on Saturday night.
Zanik, who has been with the Jazz since 2013, was among a handful of candidates interviewed by the Bucks. Zanik, who served as Utah general manager Dennis Lindsey's right hand, is expected to work with current Bucks GM John Hammond and eventually take over the top spot. Zanik met with Milwaukee officials in New York this month around the NBA draft lottery.
A former agent with ASM sports, Zanik came to the Jazz at the beginning of their current rebuild. In Utah, Zanik has handled a bundle of duties for the Jazz and their D-League affiliate. He's been a big part of Utah's jump from 25 to 38 to 40 wins over the past three seasons.
Zanik has family ties in Milwaukee, which would explain the desire to take a job with the Bucks. Whom the Jazz will tab to replace him isn't yet apparent.