Jazz Have One Flaw in Their Rotation, And May Ignore It This Season

The Utah Jazz's rotation is looking a lot better entering this season compared to what many have been accustomed to in recent years.

They're trending to be fully healthy, have two All-Stars in the frontcourt with Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr., picked up a couple of nice veterans on the free agent market, and of course, have the No. 2 pick in Darryn Peterson coming into the fold as well.

The Jazz's rotation is far from perfect, though. They could be a playoff-level group that ends their current four-year postseason drought, but Utah has work to do on their roster before being considered close to what their ceiling is.

One of those clear holes resides at the center position, which was only discovered this offseason after the trade to send Walker Kessler to the LA Lakers, yet now sticks out as their biggest weak point within the starting five.

And really, there's a case that the Jazz might hold off on truly addressing that weak point until the trade deadline, or closer to next summer. Because if they did, there's a good chance that they probably would've done so by now.

Jazz Might Try to Stay Afloat With Current Center Rotation

The Jazz, after learning that Kessler was not going to be on the roster this offseason, only made a couple of follow-up moves for their center position.

They had already signed Jusuf Nurkic to a two-year extension before free agency, but then went out to sign Jaxson Hayes on a two-year deal, and the same for Mo Bamba to round out their frontcourt rotation.

That means, if the Jazz don't make any further moves to their roster before opening night, they will have a center spot that will be held down by Nurkic, Hayes, Bamba, Kyle Filipowski, and in some cases, Jaren Jackson Jr. As of now, Nurkic feels like the most likely bet to start at the five, as he did for several games last season.

Feb 9, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic (30) reacts against the Miami Heat during the second quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

And when Nurkic is paired next to a lineup with guys like Markkanen, Jackson Jr., and a backcourt with Keyonte George and either Darryn Peterson or Ace Bailey, that's a five-man starting group that can stay afloat. However, it's not exactly one that will stick long-term.

The Jazz would benefit extremely well by finding a nice defensive-minded five, who can also rebound at a high level at their center position. Nurkic, who feels favored to start, checks the box as a good rebounder. Defensively, not as much. And he's only on a two-year contract entering his early 30s.

Someone like Kessler fit well at that spot, and was a long-term option who fit the Jazz's timeline. But for the draft picks that Utah could acquire in a trade to also avoid paying him a hefty contract, the front office felt better off taking that approach instead.

Long-term, that's probably the right call. But moving off of Kessler also means the Jazz are due to find another center they feel can confidently start on a playoff-level, and soon enough, championship-level team in the Western Conference.

Why the Jazz Might Be Right By Waiting to Add Another Center

So the Jazz need to find a new center, but they might wait a little longer to do so. And that's because of the timeline they're on entering next season.

They just won 22 games last season. It's the first season that the team is actively looking to win games and make the playoffs. Jaren Jackson Jr. is beginning his first year as a part of the franchise, as is Darryn Peterson.

There's a lot of adjustment going on with this young roster in a transitional period already. Making a big push for a starting center only heightens those changes.

Financially, the Jazz have things to attack as well. If Utah were to push for a starting-level center who's on a higher contract, that only complicates their negotiations with Keyonte George. He'll be a restricted free agent next offseason without an extension, and until a verdict has come in, a big investment at center feels unlikely.

Instead, the Jazz can remain patient for their center spot. They can rotate in several names at the position throughout the first half of the year and rely on Nurkic as a starter; someone who has chemistry with the existing roster, worked well in his role as a starter last year, and expands Utah's offense with his screening and playmaking.

So barring an unforeseen trade before the season, expect him to be the one rounding out this improved starting five, and being someone that the Jazz have confidence in for the time being.

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