Jazz promote Smith

Jul 3, 2008 - 4:32 PM SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- The Utah Jazz on Thursday promoted Richard Smith, who has been with the team for more than 20 years, to director of basketball operations.

Smith had spent the previous five seasons as Utah's director of scouting services. He joined the Jazz on a full-time basis in 1995 after spending the previous 11 years with the organization as a part-time assistant coach.

Utah also named former employee David Fredman, who has nearly 30 years experience with the club, as a scout. Fredman returned to the Jazz after spending last season as the general manager of the Utah Flash, the Jazz's affiliate in the D-League.

The two moves collectively replace the position of director of player personnel, formerly held by Troy Weaver, now the assistant general manager of the soon-to-be-relocated Seattle SuperSonics.