The new year hasn't been kind to the Utah Jazz. While hope might have seemed lost yesterday, things got brighter today with the blockbuster trade announcement that a legit All-Star talent was coming to the Utah Jazz.
Two-time All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. (JJJ) is now a member of the Utah Jazz, and immediately changes the calculus of how the team is constructed and how their defense will look moving forward.
BREAKING: The Memphis Grizzlies are trading star forward Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. to the Utah Jazz for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ax6oQpZx0S
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2026
The Utah Jazz have been looking like a team headed for the lottery as of late, with losses in 10 of their last 11 games and a 3-15 mark in 2026. And with minor injuries, illnesses, and other 'issues', keeping their best players off the court more often than not.
And the front office, though they want to see the Jazz keep their first-round pick in June, saw an opportunity they couldn't pass up, and jumped on Jackson for a package that didn't include a top young talent, and still protects most of the team's own draft picks moving forward.
Is the tank over for the Jazz?
So now, post-trade, does this mean the Jazz are finally exiting the tank and moving forward in their rebuild to the next phase, which fans hope includes a playoff berth?
The answer is not simple. While Jackson will invariably improve the Jazz's defense, he's one player, though a very good one. The team needs an overall defensive adjustment, and outside of prime versions of Rudy Gobert or Draymond Green, there aren't many guys who can imprint that on a team immediately.
The mindset needs to change for the Jazz, for them to fully exit the tank and move into the next phase. Jackson will be a big part of that, and if teamed with Walker Kessler in a jumbo frontcourt, could slow the parade of players to the basket immediately.
That pairing won't happen until the 2026-27 season, however, as Kessler is sidelined after labrum surgery until then. So in the meantime, the Jazz should stop losing 10 of 11 games, but they will likely finish under 30 wins and still be in the lottery this spring.
Adding a top-eight pick to the current roster would be a luxury and allow the Jazz to focus on need rather than overall talent when making a selection.
In short, the Jazz got better today, and for the future, while staying bad enough to possibly keep their pick this summer. While Jazz fans are excited, the team isn't making the play-in this year, so the tank is still in its final phase.