The Utah Jazz didn’t make a splashy run through free agency, but the moves they did make could still squeeze the second unit.
Utah traded away Walker Kessler, then filled out the roster with a few additions around the edges using its non-taxpayer mid-level exception. The Jazz are heading into next season hoping their young core, plus the All-Star pairing of Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr., can push them back toward the postseason for the first time since 2022.
The new faces matter, though. Signing Josh Okogie, adding Jaxson Hayes, and bringing back Mo Bamba may not have grabbed headlines, but those decisions can still ripple through the rotation and cost some returning players valuable minutes.
Svi Mykhailiuk is one of the clearest examples. He carved out a major role for himself last season, and Utah rewarded him earlier this offseason by fully guaranteeing his 2026-27 contract. That alone says the Jazz still view him as part of the plan.
Still, his path to steady playing time looks tougher now. Okogie gives Utah a wing defender who can handle the same kind of spot Mykhailiuk occupies, and he could climb ahead of him because of the 3&D value he brings. The Jazz clearly trust Mykhailiuk as a veteran who fits well as an off-ball piece in Will Hardy’s system, but with Okogie and Darryn Peterson also competing for minutes at the two, last season’s workload may be hard to repeat.
The same kind of pressure could hit Cody Williams, even if he may be the least affected player on this list. Utah still wants to develop him into a defensive-minded wing, and the best way to do that is through real game reps. But the Jazz no longer have to lean on him as their only strong defender on the perimeter or in the frontcourt.
Okogie is now in the mix, and Ace Bailey could also come off the bench as a sixth man while continuing his own two-way development. On top of that, Kyle Filipowski and Jaxson Hayes will need frontcourt minutes.
Williams will have to show real growth this season if he wants to lock down a place in Utah’s long-term picture. That means improving defensively, sharpening his outside shot, and becoming more dangerous as a finisher at the rim.
If that progress doesn’t come, the Jazz could explore moving him at the deadline or choose not to pick up his team option in the summer of 2027.
Johnny Konchar finds himself in a similar spot to Mykhailiuk. After arriving in a trade from the Memphis Grizzlies, he became a useful part of the rotation last season, bringing hustle, energy, and a defensive lift in the second half of the year. He wasn’t a polished shooter or a major off-ball threat, but he did help raise the floor on that end.
The problem is that Utah now has other options for that job. Okogie can supply defense, Williams could grow into that role, and Konchar’s inconsistent shot makes it harder for him to stand out when compared with wings like Mykhailiuk and Bailey. His effort and toughness should keep him on Will Hardy’s radar, but there may simply be better fits in the second unit.
In Other News...
Jazz May Have A Real Fix For Their Biggest Roster Hole
The Jazz have spent enough time sorting through their frontcourt to know the issue is bigger than a single game or a short stretch of injuries. Losing Walker Kessler left Utah looking for more stability at center, and the current options only underscore the uncertainty around that spot. Jusuf Nurkic, Jaxson Hayes and Mo Bamba give the roster bodies, but not necessarily the kind of dependable answer the Jazz want if they are trying to firm up the middle for the long haul.
That is why the idea of a trade keeps surfacing, even if nothing has been finalized. Utah has the flexibility to chase a center without necessarily gutting the rest of the roster, and the front office is clearly weighing whether the right fit is out there. Houstons situation adds another layer, since the Rockets may have reasons to hold onto their big man unless circumstances shift, which leaves the Jazz monitoring a market that could move slowly before it moves at all. [Read more 🡒]
Jazz Fans Keep Waiting For The Center Upgrade That Makes Sense
The Jazz are still sorting through the center spot without a clear long-term answer, and for now the front office does not appear to be rushing toward a replacement for Walker Kessler. Utah has leaned on a committee approach with Jusuf Nurkic, Kyle Filipowski and Jaxson Hayes, a mix that keeps the position covered but does little to settle the bigger question of what the rotation is supposed to look like going forward.
That is why any chatter around Jarrett Allen naturally gets attention in Utah, even if the path is far from straightforward. Jake Fischer has noted that Atlanta has interest in Allen, but Cleveland has not been considering a move, which leaves the Jazz in wait-and-see mode for now. If the Cavaliers outlook changes later, Allen could become the kind of upgrade Utah has been searching for, especially with the sort of draft capital and young talent that could make a deal worth exploring. [Read more 🡒]