Jazz enter 2026-27 with rebuilt roster and rising expectations

Utah pairs veterans Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. with young guards Keyonte George and No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson after four losing seasons.

The Utah Jazz open the 2026-27 NBA season with expectations climbing after four straight campaigns near the bottom of the Western Conference. The team went 22-60 last year and has not reached the playoffs since trading Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, but a retooled roster has changed the outlook.

The frontcourt is anchored by Lauri Markkanen, entering his fifth season with the franchise, and Jaren Jackson Jr., who arrived in a February trade. The backcourt features No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson and Keyonte George, who signed a $157.5 million extension. Will Hardy returns for his fifth season as head coach.

The offseason brought in center Jaxson Hayes and guard Josh Okogie in free agency, plus guard Josh Green via trade. Utah traded away center Walker Kessler and forward Cody Williams.

The projected starting five lists George and Peterson at guard, Ace Bailey and Markkanen at forward, and Jackson Jr. at center, with Jusuf Nurkić, Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski and Brice Sensabaugh among the rotation players.

Yahoo Sports projects a 44-38 record and gives the offseason an A- grade, while listing the Jazz at +20000 title odds. Key questions include whether Hardy starts Peterson as a rookie and how minutes are distributed among Jackson Jr., Nurkić and Bailey.