As the NBA trade deadline creeps closer, the buzz around the league is heating up - but in Utah, things remain notably calm. While the rest of the league speculates about the futures of names like Ja Morant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, and Jonathan Kuminga, the Jazz are sitting tight, eyes trained on the long game rather than any midseason fireworks.
That quiet approach isn’t by accident. With the Feb. 5 deadline looming, Utah’s front office appears content with the current trajectory - one that’s more about building for the future than scrambling for short-term gains.
The Jazz are still in the hunt for a top-8 pick in the 2026 draft, and that means staying on the lower end of the standings. Bringing in big-name talent now would only complicate that plan.
That doesn’t mean the Jazz are completely off the grid. There’s always a chance for smaller moves, especially when it comes to veterans who could fetch draft capital or young prospects.
Players like Jusuf Nurkić, Svi Mykhailiuk, and Kevin Love are on the radar as potential trade pieces. But the front office is weighing their value not just as trade assets, but as stabilizing veterans who can help mentor the team’s younger core.
And speaking of that core - there’s a clear sense of who the Jazz are building around. Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, and Walker Kessler are viewed as foundational pieces. That’s the group the organization feels confident about moving forward with, and there’s even growing belief that Nurkić and Mykhailiuk could stick around as complementary pieces to that quartet beyond this season.
So while the Jazz could technically pull the trigger on a few minor deals, the odds of a significant shake-up before the deadline are slim. The younger players who aren’t part of that core group are more likely to be involved in offseason trades, when the market opens up and teams start thinking bigger.
It might not be the kind of headline-grabbing news Jazz fans are hoping for right now, but it’s all part of a broader strategy. The real action - for Utah and likely much of the league - is shaping up to come this summer, when the trade winds are expected to blow a lot harder.
Coming Up for the Jazz:
- **Jan. 24 | 7:30 p.m.
MST** vs. Miami Heat (KJZZ)
- Jan. 27 | 8:00 p.m. MST vs.
Los Angeles Clippers (NBC/Peacock)
- **Jan. 28 | 7:00 p.m.
MST** vs. Golden State Warriors (KJZZ)
- Jan. 30 | 7:30 p.m. MST vs.
Brooklyn Nets (KJZZ)
Around the League:
- Warriors’ Jimmy Butler out for the season with a torn ACL - a major blow to Golden State’s playoff hopes.
- A winter storm is throwing a wrench into NBA and college basketball schedules across the country.
- The Buss family’s internal struggles reportedly played a major role in the $10 billion sale of the Lakers - a seismic shift in one of the league’s most storied franchises.
The Jazz may be quiet now, but don’t mistake that stillness for stagnation. This team is playing the long game - and the next chapter could be a big one.