Raja Bell, CJ Miles Highly Critical of Head Coach Tyrone Corbin

The Utah Jazz locker room was not a particularly happy place this year, and with their season now over, some of the players (Raja Bell and CJ Miles, in particular) spoke up about their issues with head coach Ty Corbin. From the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune: “The morning after being swept by San Antonio, most Utah Jazz players talked about how satisfying their past playoff season was and expressed optimism for the future. And then there was Raja Bell. The 12-year veteran has one season remaining on his three-year deal with the Jazz, but he is convinced his stay in the Beehive State is over. Bell started his candid nine-minute interview at Tuesday’s locker clean-out with the verbal bombshell, ‘I don’t think I have a future with the team.’ […] Bell’s biggest beef was about a communication gap with his coach, something that dates back to the 2010-11 season when he was displeased with the way Corbin told him about his decision to move him to a reserve role at the end of the year. ‘I just thought that the way I was handled by Ty was unprofessional,’ Bell said. […] A lack of dialogue at the end of the season and in the playoffs — coupled with Bell being the only healthy Jazz player to not see any postseason action — soured the veteran to the point that he doesn’t see a future here. ‘When it gets to a point where there’s absolutely no communication for months on end,” Bell said, “I think we all know that that’s irreparable damage.’ […] Longtime Utah small forward C.J. Miles said he was proud of what his team accomplished and is open to returning next season. But the seven-year veteran joined Bell in questioning Corbin’s communication skills, pointing toward deep-rooted issues that sometimes undercut the team’s improved chemistry this year. Much of Bell’s frustration the last two seasons stemmed from a lack of dialogue and understanding. Miles often felt the same, and he could no longer hold his tongue after quietly sitting back and doing everything the Jazz asked of him the past few years. Morevoer, Miles said, communication between Utah and its players was much better when Jerry Sloan coached the team. Corbin replaced Sloan in February 2011. ‘Being able to know what’s going on makes everything a lot easier,’ said Miles. ‘You don’t want to have to come in guessing. … I don’t even remember us naming a captain. But they wanted leadership?'”