By stockpiling a massive frontcourt rotation, Danny Ainge is following an emerging NBA trend designed to counter Victor Wembanyama’s dominance and survive the league's new "double-big" era.
On the surface level, one could assume the Utah Jazz signed Mo Bamba to replace the departing Walker Kessler after the former first-round pick joined the Los Angeles Lakers in a sign-and-trade worth $130 million over four years.
... but that's just the surface level.
After all, Utah had already retained Jusuf Nurkic and added Jaxson Hayes before bringing Bamba back into the fold.
Let's not forget, though, that Danny Ainge and Utah's brass also went out and signed Jaxson Hayes.
Insert Brian Windhorst meme here.
Now, why is that?
Surely the Jazz aren't still trying to figure out their center depth. For all practical purposes, after retaining Nurkic, the franchise could've confidently entered the 2026-27 campaign with Jaren Jackson Jr. capable of sliding to the five while Nurkic and Kyle Filipowski handled traditional center duties.
But, in fact, they are.
And it's all because of Victor Wembanyama.
Take a look around the league. Take a closer look at the deals some of these free agent centers are signing. Something is causing this sudden spike ... and it's "The Alien" down in San Antonio who's the culprit.
So while Utah's decision to now boast — counting Jackson as a center — five unique big men may seem confusing, it's actually a sign that Ainge and company are following the NBA's latest trend.
Which is a good thing, especially since the Jazz are in the West.
Utah is going to compete this season. In fact, it may end up being the most slept-on group in its respective conference.
Even if the Jazz take the step that I, and many others, believe they will, it won't matter if they can't get past the Spurs' French phenom.
Wembanyama is fundamentally changing how teams construct their rosters as the league scrambles to embrace the "double-big" era of the past — largely because New York's double-big approach proved one of the more effective ways of dealing with Wembanyama during its run to the NBA Finals.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, when on the court together, were able to slow Wembanyama far more than the Oklahoma City Thunder were in the Western Conference Finals.
That's why you've seen Jock Landale get handed a $14 million contract by Atlanta, or why Mo Wagner received $19 million over two years from Brooklyn.
And the same logic applies in Utah, which continues to stockpile size in anticipation of eventually having to deal with Wembanyama in a playoff series.
Whether any of them can actually slow Wembanyama is another discussion entirely.
But if the rest of the Western Conference is preparing for life in the age of "The Alien," Utah has made one thing clear:
It has no intention of being left behind.
