The Utah Jazz are getting closer to the point where contending talk starts to feel real. But they are not there yet, and the biggest reason is pretty clear: they still need a starting center who can defend, anchor the frontcourt, and fit with the rest of the group.
That missing piece matters because Utah has already taken a big swing in a different direction this offseason. The Jazz traded Walker Kessler, a player who would have checked that box, but the move came with real benefits. Utah picked up a lot of draft capital from the Los Angeles Lakers, cleared more than $30 million by not committing to Kessler’s new contract, and gave itself plenty of financial and future flexibility.
From a roster-building standpoint, it makes sense. The Jazz were not going to be a championship team on next season’s roster anyway, so passing on that deal was defensible. But the trade also left a hole behind, and that hole is now sitting right in the middle of the starting lineup.
Jusuf Nurkic can fill the spot for now as a starter, but he does not look like the long-term answer. His issues as an offensive threat at the rim and his limitations on defense make him more of a stopgap than a solution.
So Utah is back to searching for the right five. The front office has options, and it may not even solve the problem this summer. More likely, the Jazz will keep that flexibility and attack the position next summer instead of rushing to patch it before opening night for the 2026-27 season.
That timeline would give Utah more time to see its young players grow together over a full season. It would also help the team get a better read on Keyonte George’s future as he plays through a contract year. By the time the 2027-28 season arrives, the Jazz could be in position to set real expectations for being one of the West’s better teams.
For now, patience is still part of the deal for Jazz fans. The rebuild has been long, but there is at least a sense that the finish line is coming into view.
In Other News...
Jazz Fans Arent Wrong To Be Worried About Cody Williams Yet
Cody Williams first two seasons with the Jazz have looked like the kind of slow-burn development that can test a fan bases patience. His rookie year was quiet enough to raise questions, and even in Year 2 the progress has come in uneven waves, with the most encouraging stretch arriving after the All-Star break when his role grew and his overall production started to climb.
Williams has shown enough to keep the long view alive, especially as a cutter and secondary playmaker, but the shooting remains the obvious hold-up. The Jazz can still point to signs of growth and a player who is learning how to fit into an NBA offense, yet the gap between encouraging flashes and dependable nightly value is still wide enough to leave his outlook unsettled for now. [Read more 🡒]
Walker Kessler Trade Put Lauri Markkanen In An Uncomfortable Spotlight
Walker Kesslers departure has stirred up the kind of Lauri Markkanen chatter that follows any major move in Utah, even if the Jazz are not actually looking to send him out the door. The bigger picture remains the same: this is a team trying to keep its core together and move closer to the playoffs, not tear everything down and start over again.
Markkanen sits at the center of that plan, which is why any real trade discussion would have to come with a clear, unmistakable upgrade coming back. He has still never played a minute in the postseason, and Utah is positioned as his best chance yet to finally change that, so the bar for moving him is understandably high. [Read more 🡒]