The Utah Jazz have a pretty loaded frontcourt. Lauri Markkanen may be their only star, but playoff contenders would kill to have these players in their big man rotation:
-John Collins (has had his best season in years)
-Walker Kessler (one of the league's best rim protectors and rebounders)
-Kyle Filipowski (promising high-IQ big man capable of space the floor)
-KJ Martin (high-energy big that blocks shots and finished lobs)
Not to mention, they have some intriguing young bigs in Micah Potter and Oscar Tshiebwe. Imagine if this group adds Cooper Flagg into the mix. The fact remains that the Jazz's frontcourt is very talented, but there will definitely be some questions to answer regarding who they keep long-term, especially if they win the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes.
Know what a lot of people are forgetting? Next year, Taylor Hendricks will be added to that mix. Before his tragic season-ending injury, Hendricks won the job as their starting power forward to start the year.
The Jazz gave him that role because they believed in his potential. Although he hadn't shown much, this season was supposed to be about figuring out his niche in the NBA before that awful injury he didn't deserve.
The Jazz shouldn't ignore his development when he comes back next season since they believed in it coming into this season. The only problem is that there are now more proven options than him coming into next season.
Will Taylor Hendricks' return push more trades?
The Jazz want their young players to reach their potential. Look at Kyle Filipowski. Because of how well he's performed during their tanking season, the Jazz have every reason to see that through to its fullest.
Hendricks isn't as proven as Filipowski, but he deserves the chance to figure out what he can do on the floor. Any young team would give them both increased roles because it's common sense for a young team to do so, but Markkanen, Collins, and Kessler will all be ahead of at least Hendricks on the depth chart.
This may lead to more trades this coming offseason. Collins is the obvious candidate, and the Jazz nearly succeeded in trading him to the Kings before the De'Aaron Fox debacle. There's no reason to think they won't try it again.
But he's only one player. They still have quite a few more. Reintegrating Hendricks will be tricky whether Collins is on the team next season because of how much talent will surround him. However, what will make it easier is that the Jazz will likely take it slow when he returns because of the emotional hurdles he'll have to overcome as he returns to his old self.
Still, even with him waiting in the wings, the Jazz's frontcourt situation is already sticky enough. They have plenty of young and veteran talent, so trying to balance both by running it back might not be wise when more talent is coming along.