After four straight losing campaigns, the Utah Jazz approach the 2026 offseason armed with the No. 2 overall draft choice, significant salary-cap space and several pivotal roster decisions.
How Utah Got Here
Utah wrapped up the 2025/26 season at 22-60, tied with Sacramento for the NBA’s fourth-worst record. A tiebreaker placed the Jazz ahead of the Kings and proved decisive on lottery night, when Utah jumped from No. 4 to No. 2. Because the pick landed inside the top eight, the selection remains with Utah instead of conveying to Oklahoma City.
The club’s slide began last October when starting center Walker Kessler aggravated a torn labrum in his left shoulder five games into the year and underwent season-ending surgery. The Jazz were 2-3 at the time and went 16-35 before a Feb. 3 win in Indiana stopped a six-game skid.
February Trade Brings in Jackson Jr.
Hours before that victory, Utah completed a major deadline deal with Memphis, receiving Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Vince Williams Jr. and Jock Landale. The Grizzlies took back Kyle Anderson, Georges Niang, rookies Taylor Hendricks and Walter Clayton, the Lakers’ 2027 first-round pick (top-four protected), the most favorable of Cleveland’s, Minnesota’s or Utah’s 2027 first, and Phoenix’s 2031 first.
Memphis had previously raised Jackson’s 2025/26 salary to allow a new veteran extension. The 27-year-old forward is owed $49 million, $50.5 million and $52 million over the next three seasons, followed by a $53.5 million player option for 2029/30.
Jackson suited up just three times for Utah before knee surgery to remove a benign growth. Soon after, the Jazz shut down Jackson, Jusuf Nurkic and Lauri Markkanen, while emerging guard Keyonte George—hampered by ankle issues—played limited minutes down the stretch. Utah finished the final two-plus months 6-25.
Previous Offseason Moves
The franchise began reshaping its roster last summer. Utah drafted Rutgers wing Ace Bailey at No. 5, sent Collin Sexton and a 2030 second-rounder to Charlotte for Nurkic, and moved John Collins to the Clippers in a three-team trade that yielded a 2027 second, Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson and a traded-player exception.
Defensive Woes Continue
Since trading Rudy Gobert to Minnesota in 2023, the Jazz have ranked 23rd, 30th, 30th and 29th in defensive rating. Management hopes pairing Jackson with Kessler and Finnish star Markkanen can reverse that trend once everyone is healthy.
Key Offseason Questions
General manager Justin Zanik and CEO Danny Ainge face three immediate priorities:
- Selecting a prospect at No. 2 in a draft widely viewed as strong at the top.
- Negotiating a new deal with restricted free agent Kessler.
- Determining how high to bid on a rookie-scale extension for George, who enjoyed a breakout third season.
Utah also owns an ample collection of future first-round picks and considerable cap room, though the roster lacks mid-sized contracts that would make matching salaries for another near-max player straightforward.
The Jazz enter the summer positioned to add top-end talent through the draft while trying to solidify a young core that could finally push the club back toward playoff contention.
Source: Hoops Rumors
