The hardest part of rebuilding is finding the building blocks who can anchor the team's efforts on the offensive end of the floor. Talent is abundant in the NBA, but the Utah Jazz are one of the select few teams with two legitimate star-caliber offensive contributors.
Rather than selling high and hoping yet another season can comfortably pass without investing in the present, the Jazz must add talent at the trade deadline to help Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen.
The obvious counterpoint is that the 2026 NBA Draft is heralded as one of the strongest in recent memory. There's legitimate star potential at the top of the board and a deep class of quality prospects who could develop into starters or quality rotation players.
The Jazz are currently on pace to have the seventh-best lottery odds in the NBA, however, which gives them decent but not exceedingly great odds of entering the top four.
Chances are, the Jazz aren't going to climb much higher than their current position by completing a trade at the deadline. It's even more likely that their current roster would still have them stuck on the outside looking in of more favorable lottery odds as they dream of landing Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, or Darryn Peterson.
Rather than forcing the issue of a tank by parting with the players who are helping George and Markkanen excel, the Jazz must focus on improving the rotation for the 2026-27 season.
Jazz must be buyers rather than sellers at 2026 NBA trade deadline
George and Markkanen are among the best offensive players at their respective positions. They not only have the production to prove that, but a compelling blend of consistency and peak performance that suggests Utah can build its team around their efforts.
The Jazz also have a mountain of players with untapped potential, as Ace Bailey, Walter Clayton Jr., Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski, Taylor Hendricks, and Brice Sensabaugh are all 22 or younger.
The hurdle that the Jazz are struggling to leap over is complementing George and Markkanen with players who are able to contribute high-level minutes on a nightly basis. An inherent issue with a youth movement is that inconsistency is to be expected of players who are still finding their footing.
In an era during which contenders are defined in large part by the quality of their role players, the Jazz simply don't have consistent defenders, creators, or playmakers to help their stars.
Righting that wrong must become a top priority in Utah if they hope to compete in the Western Conference. Perhaps there is an argument for putting that goal off until the offseason, but Utah hasn't exactly proven to be a prime destination for free agents in recent years.
With this in mind, the Jazz can't be afraid to take a chance on high-level defenders and two-way players if there's a chance to complete a trade for at least one ahead of the deadline.
Doing so would not only take pressure off of George and Markkanen, but create a stronger structure within the rotation. In that scenario, the up-and-comers would be able to play a more defined role and face less pressure in areas they may not be ready to consistently deliver.
Utah may not be in the running for one of the stars on the open market, but it would be wise to add quality veterans in their prime who can round out the rotation before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.