Beyond a top-two selection, Utah must navigate Walker Kessler’s free agency and leverage mid-level exceptions to secure elite perimeter shooting for a 2026 playoff push.
On the night of the NBA Lottery, the Utah Jazz saw its first pick land at second overall. It will be the first time the Jazz pick in the top five since the organization selected Dante Exum fifth overall in 2014 and will be the highest draft pick since Darrell Griffith went second overall in 1980. NBA Draft experts expect the Jazz to take an immediate impact player, whether it is BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, or Duke big man Cameron Boozer. What other avenues do the Jazz have to improve its roster and join the playoff hunt during the 2026-2027 season?
Utah is considered a small-market franchise and does not have a long history of making big splashes in free agency. President of Basketball Operations Austin Ainge, and general manager Justin Zanik are forced to depend on the draft, scouting, development, and trades to bolster the roster into a playoff contender. Over the last few years, the Jazz front office has done well in building a young core.
The Jazz enters into the offseason with an impressive young core in Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Isaiah Collier, Brice Sensabaugh, and Cody Williams. Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. are frontline pieces that provide veteran presence to the lineup. There is one player that is crucial for Utah to retain to continue building a playoff-caliber team.
Walker Kessler only played in five games before suffering a season-ending injury, but his rebounding and interior defense allows Markkanen and Jackson to provide the spacing that allows the offense to flow. Kessler is a restricted free agent, meaning the Jazz have rights to match an offer sheet that he may get from another team. The front office would certainly rather sign Kessler to an extension and avoid offer sheets altogether. The Jazz have about $48 million in space under the luxury tax, so there is financial flexibility to sign Kessler with room to spare to fill out the rest of the roster.
While the Jazz will not be able to join the list of teams vying for the top free agents, the team has a $15 million mid-level exemption (MLE) to sign role players, preferably guards with shooting skills. The Jazz finished second to last in above the break three point percentage at 32.9%. Landry Shamet, Luke Kennard, and Quentin Grimes could be options to address that need while using some of the MLE.
There are eleven players under contract for next season which includes standout two-way player Blake Hinson and non-guaranteed contracts with Kyle Filipowski and Svi Mykhailiuk. If those three players are on the 2026-2027 roster, adding the player selected with the second pick and signing Walker Kessler would leave the Jazz with only two roster spots to fill with plenty of MLE and room under the first apron to address their roster needs.
