The Utah Jazz shocked the NBA on Tuesday when they traded Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang, and three future first-round picks for Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, and Jock Landale. The move signaled a direction shift and a new era for the franchise.
A new era and a new set of faces
The Jazz are trading their most favorable 2027 first-round pick among themselves, Minnesota, and Cleveland, along with the 2027 first-rounder they got from the Lakers, and a first-round pick in 2031 from Phoenix. This is the first real move Utah has made since the Donovan Mitchell trade with the Cavaliers back in September of 2022.
The Jazz finally used some of the hefty draft capital they have acquired to cash in for a young star. Jaren Jackson Jr. fits seamlessly alongside Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, and rookie Ace Bailey. Utah also retained its own 2026 first-round draft pick, which could pay huge dividends in the lottery. They may be able to add another significant piece to the new core heading into next season.
With where Utah sits in the standings (and no incentive to change that by winning), their chances of making any noise this year are low. Next season should be one of the more interesting ones in recent years as we all wait to see how this new group looks on the court. Walker Kessler, who is out for the rest of the season, will also be an interesting addition to that mix.
That raises questions about whether Walker will be part of the long-term future. His fit alongside Jackson Jr. in the frontcourt is intriguing, especially with Jaren's ability to stretch the floor on the offensive end. Walker has been the one bright defensive spot on the Jazz in recent seasons and now gets a former Defensive Player of the Year to pair alongside him to fortify the paint (which this team desperately needs).
Since the Jazz moved on from Mitchell and defensive big man Rudy Gobert, there hasn't been much excitement about this team. Seasons of low wins and lottery balls have dominated the headlines. With the emergence of Keyonte George this season, Lauri Markkanen returning to his all-star form, and now Jaren Jackson Jr. on the team, there is a real chance Utah has entered its next era of winning basketball with a completely new set of faces.