Predicting Which Jazz Player Becomes Lauri Markkanen's Prime Backup

Heading into the new year, the Utah Jazz possesses one of the deepest frontcourts in the league. The starters should be set with Walker Kessler, John Collins, and Lauri Markkanen receiving the lion's share of minutes.

Also, Jazz fans can pencil in Kelly Olynyk and Omer Yurtseven to serve as backups to Collins and Kessler. But what about the court time that’s up for grabs to back up Lauri Markkanen at the small forward position?

Which players are most likely to receive those minutes? Let’s examine

Ochai Agbaji

With the current log jam limiting minutes at the point and shooting guard positions, the Jazz will be looking to find court time for the former 2022 lottery pick. Agbaji could nail down the starting job at the two, but moving him as Markkanen’s backup would be a way to clear a path for Keyonte George to cement himself in the rotation.

Agbaji has the size (6-foot-10 wingspan) and versatility where the transition would make sense. In an era where a positionless style of basketball is becoming the norm, Abaji fits the mold of what Utah wants when it comes to juggling different lineups.

Talen Horton-Tucker

Horton-Tucker is in a similar spot where there could be too many cooks in the kitchen at the point guard spot. If Kris Dunn and Collin Sexton beat out “THT” for minutes at the one, then playing backup to Markkanen is plausible.

Horton-Tucker is entering the last year of his contract, and whether he’ll be re-signed is up in the air. Either way, the Jazz will want to see if there have been improvements in his game since last season and if another contract is warranted.

Simone Fontecchio

Fontecchio showed improvements last season when given an opportunity after the Mike Conley trade cleared a path for more playing time. In the month of March, the second-year Jazzman averaged 11.4 points on 38% shooting from long distance, and he also impressed on the international stage, leading Italy in scoring at 18 points per contest.

However, getting consistent minutes out of the gates could be difficult, considering the competition for playing time. With Fonteccio entering the last year of his contract, I don’t expect him to be in Utah’s long-term plans and would be a candidate to be traded at some point during the season.

Luka Šamanić

Šamanić increased his stock by having a solid Summer League, but cracking the initial rotation won’t be easy. However, the former first-round draft pick has the size to play the three or the four and fits in nicely with what the Jazz are looking for in terms of positional size.

Jazz fans will most likely only see Šamanić on a consistent basis if Utah is bitten by the injury bug. That said, it speaks to Utah’s depth that Šamanić will start the season at the end of the bench.

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