As the Utah Jazz continue through the 2025-26 season, fans may wonder what more there is to watch the team for, as the direction they are going the rest of the way is very clear.
The tanking to keep their draft pick in June has been evident for months. However, a ray of hope came at the trade deadline, when a legitimate All-Star was added to the roster in Jaren Jackson Jr., signifying that the Jazz won't be tanking at this time next year.
With that change of direction on the horizon, the remainder of this season becomes an audition of sorts - the Jazz front office needs to sort out who can fit next to JJJ, Markkanen, Keyonte George, Walker Kessler, and Ace Bailey - the likely core of the 2026-27 Jazz team.
Exempted from this list is anyone on a two-way or 10 day deal, as they're always on the roster bubble.
So even as the Jazz lose a lot of games over the final month and a half of the season, we still need to see some important things from these five players, to see if they are worth keeping around next year.
#5 - Cody Williams
In two seasons, Williams has been an overall disappointment, but there have been bright spots - he has looked better on the road (48% from the field and 28% from 3), as opposed to home (44% and 14%).
He has had a solid amount of minutes (20.7 per game in 96 games), and nearly half of those games have been starts. Those numbers will likely decline as Ace Bailey's role increases, not to mention the return of Walker Kessler and JJJ, which will limit the frontcourt minutes available.
If Cody wants to stay in the rotation, he needs to IMPROVE HIS OUTSIDE SHOT, and fast. 24% shooting from three won't earn him a second NBA contract.
#4 - Brice Sensabaugh
Some might think Brice has shown enough in three seasons to stick around, even if the Jazz move into a playoff contender. And while he has looked better offensively and found a niche as a bench scorer, he needs to improve in other areas if he's going to continue to get 20-plus minutes a night.
Brice's value on offense somewhat obscures his deficiencies on the other end of the floor, where he'll be judged on a better roster, against players who might get the call in tough matchups against opposing scorers.
Brice needs to step up his DEFENSE if he wants to remain a significant part of the rotation, and he's capable of doing it.
#3 - Svi Mykhailiuk
As a veteran guard on a young Jazz roster, Svi has shown his value this season, scoring nine points per night on 47/39/92 shooting splits, in a healthy 23 minutes a night.
With so many Jazz players competing for wing minutes, it's how he plays off the stars and the rising youngsters that will show whether he's worth keeping around for next season.
Svi needs to show LEADERSHIP when he's the adult on the floor, and prove that he's a part of the Jazz for the future.
#2 - Vince Williams Jr.
With a cap-friendly team option for 2026-27 ($2.4 million), Vince Williams Jr. realistically had a shot at remaining on the Jazz for the 2026-27 season.
However, he has looked anything but comfortable since the trade from Memphis, with his minutes plummeting (21.6 to 14 per night) and his stats dropping across the board.
But with a reported ACL injury, his future with the team is anything but certain.
Vince Williams Jr. needs to HEAL PROPERLY and hope he's still in the Jazz's plans come October.
#1 - John Konchar
As the fifth-highest paid player on the current roster, Konchar should be part of the rotation for more than 14 minutes a night, but that's exactly what he's been since joining the Jazz in a midseason trade.
Caught in a minutes crunch with Ace Bailey, Cody Williams, Brice Sensabaugh, Svi Mykhailuk, and others, Konchar has shown a feisty defensive streak, but his shooting has been abysmal since joining the Jazz - 35% from the field and even worse from distance (10.5%).
His saving grace has been his 2.4 steals per night, and willingness to take on bigger players.
Konchar needs to SHOOT BETTER if he wants to stick around in 2026-27.
Well that's the list. All are on the roster bubble, and their fates could come down to how things go the rest of the year. Let's hope some of them are around to see better days in Utah.