Utah Jazz Offseason

Preview:

* W/L 17/64

• Home 10-31

• Away 7-34

Team overall stats

OFFRTG 110.2 (24th)

DEFRTG 119.4 (30th) NETRTG -9.2 (28th) TOV% 17.0 (30th)

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Draft:

1st pick: Cooper Flagg

21th pick:Ben Saraf 44th pick: Tyrese Proctor 52th pick: Dink Pate

### Trades:

Two Teams Trade (Jazz-Heat)

*Heat get: Jordan Clarckson

• Jazz get: 2029 Heat 1st round (top 10 protected) 2029 Heat 2nd round (Heat gets right to swap)

Three Teams Trade (Jazz-Lakers-Magic)

Jazz get: Gary Harris, Jett Howard

      2027 Magic 1st round (top 8 protected)

Orlando get: Collin Sexton, Dalton Knecht 2026 Lakers 1st round pick (Lakers holds right to swap) Lakers get Wendell Carter Jr

Free Agency

Signed free agent Malcolm Brogdon to a 3 year contract worth $34.0M.

2025 $14.0M • 2026 $11.0M • 2027 $9.0M

Contracts:

Re-signed free agent Walker Kessler to a 4 year contract worth $84.0M.

2025 $24.0M • 2026 $22.0M • 2027 $20.0M • 2028 $18.0M

Accept John Collins Player option (trade at the deadline or during the 2025/26 season) Accept Sensabaugh, Hendricks, Keyonte George Team options

Salary Review

$174.3M Tot. Cap $170.2M Tot. Apron

$17.6M Tax Space $25.6M 1st Space

Ideal Depth Rotation:

C: Walker Kessler PF: Lauri Markkanen SF: Cooper Flagg SG: Keyonte George Pg: Malcom Brogdon C: Kyle Filipowski PF: Taylor Hendricks SF: Taylor Hendricks SG: Ben Saraf/Cody williams PG: Collier

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Expectation

W/L 41-41 Play-In Team/Late Lottery

Trade Explanation

Magic: they get the offense that they desperatly need (40% from 3 in 4 attempts per game) Heat: 6th man SG Lakers: They finally get a Center after the Mark Williams failed trade

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Utah Jazz 2025 Offseason: Analytical Breakdown

After a dismal 17-64 season, featuring the league’s worst defensive rating (DEFRTG 119.4, 30th) and a bottom-three net rating (-9.2), the Utah Jazz have officially entered the final phase of their rebuild. Armed with the No. 1 overall pick, a deep pool of young prospects, and a series of strategic trades and signings, Utah’s front office has repositioned the franchise for a new era.

1. Cooper Flagg: A Franchise-Altering Pick

Landing the No. 1 pick and selecting Cooper Flagg is a potential franchise-altering event. A generational talent, Flagg brings elite defensive instincts, high-level feel for the game, and advanced versatility on both ends. His pairing with Walker Kessler gives Utah an immediate defensive core, while Lauri Markkanen adds elite spacing and offensive versatility to the frontcourt.

Flagg is more than just a star prospect — he’s the centerpiece around which Utah can build a modern, positionless system based on athleticism, two-way intelligence, and long-term upside.

2. Youthful Depth and Upside Across the Roster

Utah didn’t stop at Flagg. The draft class also included:

Ben Saraf (#21) – A dynamic scoring guard with secondary playmaking abilities.

Tyrese Proctor (#44) and Dink Pate (#52) – Long-term developmental prospects with upside.

Combined with a young core that already features Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, Brice Sensabaugh, Cody Williams, and Isaiah Collier, the Jazz have built one of the deepest under-23 rotations in the NBA. This allows the franchise to focus on player development while building cohesion and identity.

3. Strategic Trades: Gaining Assets, Maintaining Flexibility

Two major trades were executed with clear strategic intent:

Clarkson to Miami: Moving Jordan Clarkson frees up minutes for younger guards and nets the Jazz a top-10 protected first and a second-round pick in 2029 — future capital for trades or continued draft reinvestment.

Three-team deal (Jazz-Magic-Lakers): By moving Collin Sexton, Utah acquires Gary Harris (a defensive veteran), Jett Howard (a young 3&D prospect), and a top-8 protected 2027 first-rounder from Orlando. The deal trims salary and adds both short-term contributors and long-term assets.

4. Veteran Leadership: Malcolm Brogdon’s Role

The signing of Malcolm Brogdon (3 years, $34M) is one of the most deliberate moves of the offseason. Brogdon brings stability, floor leadership, and playoff experience to a young roster. His decreasing salary structure ($14M → $11M → $9M) reflects smart cap management and aligns with the team’s competitive timeline.

5. Walker Kessler Extension: Locking Down a Defensive Pillar

Re-signing Walker Kessler to a 4-year, $84M deal reinforces the franchise’s commitment to defensive identity. As a shot-blocker, rim protector, and efficient rebounder, Kessler’s synergy with Flagg and Hendricks will be a defining feature of Utah’s new era. His contract also decreases over time, providing long-term flexibility.

6. Salary Cap Management: Smart and Sustainable

While the Jazz technically project to be over the cap in 2025 ($174.3M total cap), they remain well under the first and second tax aprons, with $25.6M of space beneath the first apron. With multiple expiring and tradable contracts (John Collins, Brogdon, Harris), the team preserves the ability to make midseason moves or retool further in 2026.

Conclusion

The Utah Jazz are entering the final stretch of a carefully managed rebuild. With a transformative talent in Cooper Flagg, a roster loaded with promising young players, and a front office focused on flexibility and asset accumulation, the Jazz are positioned to re-emerge as a force in the Western Conference. The foundation is in place — now it’s about growth, development, and patience.