The Utah Jazzes are not expected to change their fate next season, and there may be no reason for them to try it.
After the 2022 season, the Utah Jazz decided to trade the duo of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert for draft picks and future packages of young players. They haven’t drafted any legal superstars yet, but young people like Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton have erupted, but there’s no definitive player to build.
They are expected to be one of the worst teams in the league in 2025-26, and despite winning the worst record in the Western Conference, they landed only the fifth pick in the NBA Draft, missing out on franchise saviors like Cooper Flag and Dylan Harper.
Jazz has no competitive talent or motivation, and the upcoming season is expected to be bleak.
After playing the All-Star Game in 2022-23, Marconen has taken a step back in both offensive efficiency and overall health.
To maximize Markanen’s trade value, the Jazz should play him as much as possible in the upcoming seasons, and show off the talent that won him the most improved player in 2023.
The Jazz would prefer to tank and land top players in the 2026 NBA Draft, but they have no talent to compete and have managed to win both tank and play.
“The Jazz will be able to score a bottom five record in the league next year if they try to win every game,” suggested ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.
“There are at least 13 teams in the West that enter the season, and Portland believes they can at least make a play-in tournament or win a play-in tournament.
“So, like Washington, who tried to win every game this year, if you’re the only person in that situation, they’d play four rookies and they didn’t win that many games.”
Jazz missed Flagg, but in 2026 they can do as good as draft classes. AJ Dybantsa is expected to become a superstar, followed by Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson and Dash Daniels in the draft.
As the Jazz knows, the NBA Draft lottery is cruel and there is no guarantee that they will land the rights of top players.
Dybantsa will be attending BYU, just an hour south of Salt Lake City, and could become a home hero if drafted by jazz.
The famous Utah left the only option to build through drafts, as it was not a trade or free agency destination. Fans may feel they are being taken away around 2025, but for small market teams it is the only option that doesn’t lack the glorious play of another year.