The tank was real in Utah. Nobody can deny it. The League handed down discipline once it caught on that the Jazz purposely sat players late in games to ensure a lottery spot.
This was especially apparent when Head Coach Will Hardy intentionally benched Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen on two separate occasions in February.
Soon after, the Jazz made it a little less obvious and shut down their two star players for the season due to lingering injuries. The Jazz finished 22-60 and tied for the worst record in the Western Conference. The tank job was a success.
While the league played checkers, the Jazz played chess. The increased desire for a top pick in the 2026 draft throughout the season opened the door for a group of young and ascending players to thrive in their elevated roles.
Development of Young Pieces
For instance, Keyonte George showed why he deserved a lucrative five-year, $157.5 million contract extension this summer.
This past season was a massive leap for him, cementing his status as the franchise playmaking guard of the future.
Even a late first-round draft pick in 2023 blossomed a bit, as the Jazz prioritized early picks over winning; Brice Sensabaugh averaged 20.5 points per game in 22 games after the All-Star break. Ace Bailey also showed why he was selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
Suggesting that the Jazz can become a playoff contender might sound crazy, but look a little deeper, and that notion gains traction.
Jazz’s Biggest Offseason Loss: Walker Kessler
The Jazz wanted to keep Walker Kessler after acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies last trade deadline. But Kessler had other ideas.
Vocal about his distaste for ongoing salary discussions, the center courted with the Los Angeles Lakers for a new deal. With George also needing a raise and four first-rounders being waved in their face, the Jazz ultimately traded Kessler to the Lakers.
While the Jazz also lost John Konchar, Cody Williams, and Kevin Love, Kessler’s departure weakens the team the most.
Honestly, two things can be true. Losing an incredible rim-running center that can give an offense nightmares in the paint hurts. Yet this loss isn’t as detrimental to the team as it seems. Simply put, what Kessler can do, Jackson Jr. can do better.
Jazz’s Biggest Offseason Addition: Darryn Peterson/Jackson Jr.
Many would say that the addition of Darryn Peterson is the biggest offseason move, and who knows, two years from now we might be calling Peterson the next superstar scoring guard—that’s how good he’s rumored to be.
The Jazz also added Josh Green, Josh Okogie, Jaxson Hayes, and Mo Bamba. All of these acquisitions will be crucial this season, but with the departure of Kessler, Jackson Jr.’s arrival can’t be ignored.
He brings two-way stardom as a floor-spacing center and former Defensive Player of the Year. The Jazz ranked last in the league in defense from 2023-2025 and second-to-last a year ago.
Jackson Jr. has the versatility to switch on defense and cause havoc on the perimeter and in the paint; having that type of security blanket patrolling the court will make this defense a whole lot better.
His perimeter shooting (a career average of 4.9 3PA per game) will draw opposing bigs out of the paint, allowing guards to get downhill.
Those are only a few ways that Triple J can impact a game, and Jazz fans should be ecstatic about the acquisition.
Jazz’s Worst-Case Scenarios
Any worst-case scenario for any team involves injuries. A long-term injury to either Markkanen or Jackson Jr. could spell big trouble for the Jazz.
They currently don’t own this year’s first-round pick (due to the Jackson Jr. trade). So, if they have a bad season, the team could risk giving Memphis another lottery pick.
Jazz’s Best-Case Scenarios
Everyone on the team staying healthy would do the Jazz some good, especially Markkanen. Besides that, a great outcome for the Jazz would be having Peterson live up to the hype, and Bailey take a major step in his development. Those two players are two major x-factors for the team. If both average at least 15 points per game, this Jazz team not only can make the playoffs but avoid the Play-In tournament altogether.
Considering how their roster got constructed, the best-case scenario for the Jazz would be to make the sixth seed in the West.
Protecting the Paint
Utah also needs center Jusuf Nurkic to man the fort. Last season, the Jazz ranked thirtieth in the league when defending two-point shots. Paint defense must become a priority for Nurkic and Hayes this season.
If both fail to protect the paint, the Jazz could find themselves on the wrong end of outcomes. Particularly if opposing players find easy lanes to the basket. In general, every part of the defense needs to improve.
If the Jazz can’t figure out how to improve their defense, they’ll be fighting for the last play-in spot. Or even worse, miss the playoffs.
Jazz’s Biggest Questions Heading into 2026-27
With all of this moving and grooving—pun completely intended—the Jazz have done enough in free agency and the draft to make a serious push towards the playoffs this coming season.
Their offense looks unstoppable on paper, and their defense could improve drastically. It starts with the star players.
Markkanen needs to thrive alongside Jackson Jr. and George. As Will Hardy recently emphasized, they need to learn how their skill sets play off of each other and develop chemistry.
Besides needing star players to gel, there’s another glaring question this season. Will Utah trade for a starting-caliber center? While Nurkic thrived last year, he’s not the end-all replacement for Kessler.
In a Western Conference led by Victor Wembanyama, Utah needs elite center depth to go far in the playoffs. As constituted now, the Jazz roster looks to compete for the Play-In.
However, if the team gels and a starting-tier center arrives at the deadline, this team could become a force in the West.
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