The Utah Jazz may not be ready to compete for a championship yet, but they have one of the best collections of young talent in the NBA. After drafting Darryn Peterson with the No. 2 overall pick, the years of tanking are finally paying dividends.
Peterson spoke to Lisa Salters after the draft and seems excited for his start in the NBA.
“He didn’t even say much, he was just happy for me,” said Peterson on hugging his grandfather the first thing after being drafted.
“Honestly, I didn’t. But my pops always knew. Once I got older, I started believing it as well, and all of it paid off,” said Peterson on his basketball journey so far.
Overall, few teams can match Utah’s youth and potential. The Jazz could enter the 2026-27 season with eight key rotation players aged 24 or younger, led by potential future stars Darryn Peterson and Ace Bailey.
Add established veterans Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. to the mix, and suddenly, Utah has a roster capable of accelerating its rebuild much faster than expected.
They all need to develop together, and there is a lot of pressure on head coach Will Hardy to make it happen, but one thing is clear: the future finally looks bright in Salt Lake City.
Darryn Peterson – 19 Years Old
Peterson enters the NBA with superstar expectations already, even at 19 years old. Arguably the most polished guard in recent memory, Peterson has the offensive skills of a future franchise player.
The 6’5″ guard averaged 20.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 0.6 BPG on 43.8% FG, 38.2% 3-PT FG, and 82.6% FT with Kansas last season.
His ability to create offense at all three levels should immediately help a Jazz team that has often struggled to generate easy baskets. The Jazz ranked 22nd in offensive rating (114.1) and finished with the 15th seed in the West with a putrid 22-60 record.
If Peterson develops into the player many scouts believe he can become, Utah may have finally found its long-term No. 1 option.
The ceiling? A perennial All-Star and All-NBA guard.
Ace Bailey – 19 Years Old
We still believe in Ace Bailey’s upside since he is also 19 years old. At nearly 6’10” with elite athleticism and shot-making ability, Bailey has all the tools to become one of the NBA’s most dangerous scoring wings.
However, the challenge will be consistency, which is why he will likely feature off the bench next season. Bailey averaged 13.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.8 SPG, and 0.7 BPG on 44.3% FG, 34.4% 3-PT FG, and 75.0% FT in 27.6 MPG last season. He also started 61 out of his 72 games played.
Like many young scorers, Bailey must improve his efficiency and defensive engagement. But the raw talent is undeniable.
Players with Bailey’s size and offensive skill set don’t come around often, and if everything clicks, Utah could have a future All-Star forward on its hands.
Isaiah Collier – 21 Years Old
Isaiah Collier can’t be forgotten as one of the most important players in Utah’s rebuild.
While Peterson will be the primary scorer, Collier can become the team’s long-term floor general. He posted 11.7 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 0.3 BPG last season in 25.7 MPG. He even started 19 games out of his 59 appearances.
The next step is improving his perimeter shooting. Collier only shot 27.0% from three and 72.2% from the free-throw line, so he needs to get his percentages up.
If defenses begin respecting his jumper, Collier’s skill of attacking the paint and creating opportunities for teammates becomes far more dangerous.
At only 21 years old, there is still plenty of room for growth.
Cody Williams – 21 Years Old
The younger brother of Oklahoma City star Jalen Williams possesses excellent size, defensive potential, and intriguing offensive upside.
Some inconsistency has slowed his development, but the talent remains obvious after two seasons in the league already.
Williams averaged 8.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, and 0.4 BPG on 46.8% FG, 21.4% 3-PT FG, and 70.6% FT last season in 67 appearances with 41 starts.
At 6’8″, Williams has the tools to become the type of two-way wing every contender covets. He is averaging 23.0 MPG over his career already, so we expect the forward to continue growing his game in 2026-27.
Keyonte George – 22 Years Old
Keyonte George has already shown flashes of becoming a high-level NBA scorer. He posted 23.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 0.3 BPG on 45.6% FG, 37.1% 3-PT FG, and 89.2% FT as an All-Star snub last season.
The next challenge is becoming a more complete player by improving his efficiency, defense, and decision-making.
The good news for Utah is that George no longer has to carry the offensive burden alone.
With Peterson, Bailey, and Markkanen sharing responsibilities, George should find himself in better situations offensively.
The talent has always been there, and now it’s about putting everything together. We can’t wait to see George and Peterson play together and the damage they can do.
Brice Sensabaugh – 22 Years Old
Sensabaugh may be one of the most underrated young players on the roster.
His shooting ability gives Utah something every team needs: spacing. The 6’6″ forward averaged 14.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 0.2 BPG on 46.0% FG and 36.7% 3-PT FG last season.
As defenses focus on Peterson, Bailey, and Markkanen, Sensabaugh could emerge as a valuable floor spacer capable of punishing opponents from deep. He has also improved his overall offensive game and continues to develop physically.
Every successful young team needs complementary scorers, and Sensabaugh could become exactly that.
Kyle Filipowski – 22 Years Old
Kyle Filipowski exceeded expectations during the first two seasons of his NBA career. The big man averaged 11.4 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, and 0.5 BPG on 49.2% FG, 32.5% 3-PT FG, and 75.0% FT last season in 41 starts of 77 games.
Unlike many big men, Filipowski can handle the ball, facilitate offense, and stretch defenses. His fit alongside Utah’s other frontcourt players is very fascinating.
Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Filipowski appears destined to be part of the Jazz’s long-term plans.
Walker Kessler – 24 Years Old
Without question, Walker Kessler is one of the best defensive centers in the NBA.
Despite recent contract negotiations creating speculation about his future, multiple reports continue to indicate that Utah remains the favorite to retain him.
Kessler is a free agent with a $7M qualifying offer pending, giving the Jazz control over the situation, and reports have suggested he is still expected to re-sign despite ongoing negotiations. Kessler probably wants to remain in Utah, considering the talent around him.
That’s why it feels fair to say there is roughly an 80% chance Kessler remains with the Jazz entering next season.
At just 24 years old, Kessler still has room to improve and could anchor Utah’s defense for years to come. The big man averaged 14.4 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 1.8 BPG on 70.3% from the field, and those numbers indicate how good he can be moving forward.
Jaren Jackson Jr. – 26 Years Old
Jaren Jackson Jr. is the bridge between Utah’s future and present. Already a former Defensive Player of the Year, he brings playoff-level defensive impact and veteran leadership to one of the league’s youngest rosters.
His ability to protect the rim while stretching the floor offensively makes him an ideal fit next to Kessler and Markkanen.
For the Jazz, Jackson provides something every rebuilding team needs: a proven star entering his prime.
Jackson Jr. had a difficult season with the Grizzlies last season, posting 19.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 1.4 BPG on 47.6% FG, 35.7% 3-PT FG, and 80.3% FT in only 48 games. But in 2026-27, we expect Jackson Jr to be a significant boost to the Jazz’s two-way play.
Lauri Markkanen – 29 Years Old
As of right now, Lauri Markkanen is still the face of the franchise.
While Utah’s young core receives most of the attention, Markkanen is the team’s most accomplished offensive player. He is one of the toughest matchup problems in basketball, since he posted 26.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, and 0.5 BPG on 47.7% FG, 35.5% 3-PT FG, and 89.6% FT.
Markkanen gives the Jazz a legitimate All-Star-caliber player around whom the younger players can develop.
Every rebuild needs stability, and Markkanen provides exactly that.
What Can We Expect From The Jazz In 2026-27?
The playoffs should be the expectation since this roster has too much talent to remain near the bottom of the Western Conference.
They are clearly better than the 22-win team last season. We anticipate that they win close to 40 games in 2026-27, if not a little more.
Peterson and Bailey bring star-level upside. Kessler, George, Collier, Filipowski, and Williams give Utah one of the deepest young cores in the NBA. Jackson and Markkanen provide veteran star power.
Will they contend for a championship? No. Will they be one of the league’s most exciting young teams? Absolutely.
The 2026-27 season feels like the beginning of something significant in Utah. If Peterson and Bailey develop quickly, the Jazz could accelerate from rebuilding team to playoff threat far sooner than expected.
