Jazz End Rebuild, Eye Major Progress in 2026-27; Western Conference Roundup
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The Utah Jazz believe their rebuilding phase is complete and expect to contend for a playoff spot in 2026-27, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic. Management plans to give head coach Will Hardy full latitude after three seasons of roster turnover aimed at lottery positioning.
The frontcourt projects as the club’s strength, with Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Walker Kessler anchoring the paint. Rising guard Keyonte George joins recent top-five draft picks Ace Bailey (No. 5 in 2025) and this year’s No. 2 selection to form a young core the organization views as one of the league’s most promising.
Utah’s payroll will soon escalate. Markkanen and Jackson already hold sizeable contracts, Kessler is headed for restricted free agency this summer, and George becomes extension-eligible in the coming weeks after boosting his scoring average to 23.6 points in Year 3. Executives acknowledge the need for prudent roster moves to surround the core with cost-effective role players.
Additional Western Conference Notes
• Jusuf Nurkic on Mike Budenholzer: During an appearance on “X&Os Chat with Edin Avdic,” the former Suns center labeled ex-Phoenix coach Mike Budenholzer “an alcohol addict” who arranged one-on-one meetings to antagonize players. Nurkic previously criticized Budenholzer at the close of the 2024-25 season, when reports surfaced that the coach called him a poor teammate.
• Tom Dundon’s ownership style: New Trail Blazers governor Tom Dundon has drawn scrutiny since assuming control this spring, but NHL figures interviewed by The Athletic’s James Mirtle describe the Carolina Hurricanes owner as popular and not stingy. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman called Dundon “a bit of a disruptor” yet “extraordinarily creative and effective,” citing Carolina’s on- and off-ice results.
• Thunder offseason outlook: Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman outlines Oklahoma City’s roster decisions ahead of a pivotal summer. Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron projects guard Cason Wallace’s rookie-scale extension to start at a minimum of four years and $104 million, mirroring the $25 million-per-year deals secured by Dyson Daniels and Christian Braun in 2025.
Source: Hoops Rumors
