The Utah Jazz may be mostly set for opening night, but there’s still room for one more round of roster tinkering before the season begins.
With a full 15-man roster already in place and what looks like a workable rotation for next year, Utah could stand pat and still head into the opener feeling good about its chances to push for a play-in spot. Even so, the front office still has time to get creative. The season doesn’t start until October, and there are still weeks left for contracts, trades or signings to reshape the picture.
One of the biggest decisions on the table involves Keyonte George. He’s entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2026-27, and the Jazz could choose to handle his extension situation this summer instead of waiting until next offseason.
That said, patience may be the more realistic path. George will want to build toward a max contract, while Utah may prefer to see another season of strong production before making that kind of commitment.
Still, if the two sides can find common ground in the coming weeks, it would give Jazz fans some extra peace of mind. And whether the deal comes in 2026 or 2027, there’s little doubt from the current outlook that George is viewed as a franchise cornerstone.
Brice Sensabaugh presents a different kind of decision. Utah can treat him as part of its long-term second-unit core and extend him now, making that belief official. Or the Jazz can explore the trade market, where a young scorer coming off a career season could bring back meaningful value.
There’s also a case for settling that question sooner rather than later. Leaving Sensabaugh to drift toward restricted free agency could create unnecessary risk, including the possibility of losing him for nothing. For a player with his profile, the Jazz would be wise to decide which direction they want to go.
Then there’s the simplest route of all: add another player. Utah is already carrying 15 contracts, but Mo Bamba’s deal is non-guaranteed heading into opening night, which gives the team flexibility to bring in another free agent if it sees a better fit.
A perimeter defender on the wing or in the backcourt would make sense, especially after the Jazz signed Josh Okogie to a two-year deal with the goal of improving that side of the floor. Even with that addition, the bench defense could still use another boost based on how Utah has performed over the last three seasons.
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