The Utah Jazz season is winding to a close, and with it, the hopes of Jazz fans everywhere are contingent on the final two weeks of games. Namely, that they accomplish an important goal.
And with a tough slate of opponents, the Jazz are hoping that their goal of keeping this year's first-round draft pick comes to fruition.
While tanking isn't fun for the fans, it was necessary this year once Jazz brass saw that the team couldn't contend as currently constructed. The focus shifted to keeping the draft pick—one last time. And the deadline deal for Jaren Jackson Jr. might not have happened if the Jazz were contending in 2025-26.
Danny Ainge, Austin Ainge, and Justin Zanik are well aware of the value of a first-round pick, in the right draft, and want to keep this one. Especially since the Utah Jazz may be going into tax territory as early as this summer.
The Jazz absolutely have to keep their 2026 first round pick
With the NBA's salary cap projected to be at $165 million for the 2026-27 season, the Jazz are facing that reality, which makes low-cost, young players a necessity to fill out the roster.
The Utah Jazz already have two of their players taking up a lot of salary for 2026-27: Jaren Jackson Jr. ($49 million) and Lauri Markkanen ($46.1 million). And with expected extensions for Walker Kessler (potentially $28-32 million per year), Keyonte George (potentially $25-30 million starting in 2027-28), and a lower contract for Jusuf Nurkic and possibly Kevin Love, they'll blow past the $165 million salary cap this summer and then some.
Let's not forget everything the Jazz have in their arsenal. If they use the full mid-level exception to add a key free agent as well, that's another $15 million - putting them close to the first apron ($187.8 million currently).
Thus, draft picks become significant assets for filling out the roster when a team is in the luxury tax and has limited free agent options.
So there's no two ways about it - the Jazz need to keep 2026's first round pick from going to OKC, because the Jazz need it. Even if it's not Cameron Boozer or AJ Dybantsa, they want another talented rotation player AND the low-value contract that comes with it.
And while Jazz players might hate the idea, losing the final seven games of the season will go a long way towards achieving an important goal - keeping their first-round pick, and setting the Jazz's future on a better path.