The Utah Jazz have a roster built around young talent, and when it comes to players the team is unlikely to move, three names rise above the rest heading into the 2026-27 season.
That doesn’t mean the idea of an untouchable player really exists in the NBA. The Luka Doncic blockbuster between the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks back in 2025 made that clear enough: almost anything can happen if the right deal comes along. But for Utah, some pieces are simply far more protected than others because of what they mean now and what they could become later.
At No. 3 is Lauri Markkanen, a player whose name has lived in trade chatter for years. The rumors picked up again every summer after discussions of a move got loud before he signed his 2024 extension, and Utah’s stance was always the same: unless the return was exceptional, there was no interest in dealing him.
That’s exactly why nothing happened. Markkanen stayed put, signed a massive $200-plus million extension, and has made it clear he wants to remain in Salt Lake City.
The Jazz have matched that commitment, and a deal anytime soon would be a surprise.
Ace Bailey comes in next, and the noise around him hasn’t matched the reality. After Utah landed the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft, rumors briefly tied the Jazz to a possible move up the board with the Washington Wizards to No. 1 that would have involved Bailey.
But the idea that Utah wants out on him is way off. The Jazz view him as part of their core.
He earned All-Rookie Second-Team honors, improved month by month in his first season, and has the physical tools to become a major two-way presence. There’s also the scoring upside: he could grow into a nightly 20-point threat.
With his four-year rookie deal, he’s especially unlikely to be on the move.
And then there’s the top spot, where there’s no real debate: Darryn Peterson. Utah’s newest No. 2 overall pick is the player the organization would be least likely to consider moving.
Peterson has the profile of a future franchise cornerstone, with upside on both ends of the floor. He could be Utah’s leading scorer in about three years, and he may already be good enough to crack the starting lineup on opening night.
Rookie of the Year chatter is part of the package, too, in what’s expected to be a loaded field. For the Jazz, Peterson is the clearest example of a player who isn’t going anywhere.