For the time being, no one exactly knows for sure who the Utah Jazz will trot out in their starting five. Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler have their starting spots etched in stone. As for the rest of the lineup, it is anyone's guess. Tim Legler believes the rest of the lineup will be rounded out by youth, and while that will make the Jazz terrible, it will also ensure their tank will work.
While discussing over/unders for every NBA team's record next season - Utah's is 18.5 - Legler outlined who he believes will be in the starting lineup while explaining his prediction for how the Jazz will fare this coming season.
"Based on projections right now, you're talking about starting two rookies in Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr., Isaiah Collier, another super young player at point guard. And then Walker Kessler, as young as you get at that position in the middle, and then, of course, you got Lauri Markkanen.
As talented as Lauri Markkanen is, does it even matter?
"...They're not necessarily trying to rack up wins right now. It's not even a priority right now for their team, and they're super young. You add all that up, I'm going to take the under."
The funny thing is, it's undeniable how bad that starting lineup will be, and yet, there's a lot of optimism surrounding its long-term ceiling. Especially when you compare it to last year's. Better yet, as Legler said, this is a lineup that is designed to tank for what is expected to be another loaded draft class.
Because of all the youth projected to be in the Jazz's starting lineup (and frankly surrounding a lot of their roster), they probably are going to be the worst one in the league. Yet, nobody in Utah should complain about that because it should build for a better tomorrow.
The Jazz's starting lineup could change over the course of next season
It's very possible that Legler's prophecy on Utah's starting lineup, but even then, there's no telling if it will stat that way. That could be because of a potential Lauri Markkanen trade, or it could be other Jazz youngsters outshining the original youngsters enough to supplant them.
For what it's worth, it happened last season. When it was clear that Keyonte George was not taking the next step the Jazz hoped he would, and that Isaiah Collier was the better option as a playmaker, Collier took George's spot.
Utah has plenty of youngsters that could certainly be in the lineup. That includes George, Kyle Filipowski, Brice Sensabaugh, Cody Williams, and Taylor Hendricks. It's not too far out there to suggest that if any of those Jazzmen take a step forward, they could very well be a starter in due time.
That is the biggest upside about tanking. Fans will be ready for just about anything. Regardless of whether the Jazz's first starting lineup will remain intact when the regular season ends, the bar being pretty low should make it an exciting season no matter what.