Among all the changes the Utah Jazz made, something that went under the radar is that they traded two starters this offseason: Collin Sexton and John Collins. Because of those changes, it's ambiguous who will join Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler among the starters, a fact the Jazz are aware of, as demonstrated by their scrimmage lineups.
Markkanen's and Kessler's place in the starting five is set in stone, but it's unclear who will join them. The Salt Lake Tribune's Andy Larsen revealed the starters on both teams for the Jazz's scrimmage today. Neither lineup featured Markkanen or Kessler, and it was unclear which team was better than the other.
Jazz scrimmage starters:
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) October 6, 2025
White: Walter Clayton, Brice Sensabaugh, Ace Bailey, Kevin Love, Taylor Hendricks
Black: Keyonte George, Kyle Anderson, Svi Mykhailiuk, Cody Williams, Jusuf Nurkic.
Both teams featured players who definitely won't get the start when the team is at full strength - Love, Mykhailiuk, and Nurkic - while all the others are certainly candidates to take one of the three openings in the starting lineup. Other Jazz players, such as Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowski, are also candidates, but they did not participate.
Even though it's just a scrimmage, this does indicate that these three spots truly are up for grabs for most of the Jazz players to take.
Don't be surprised if the Jazz mix & match a lot this season
If and when Utah announces its opening night starters, it wouldn't be shocking if that's not the lineup for long. The Jazz's main priority this season will be evaluating who should be on the team long-term, so if one new starter isn't meshing in general, they'll put in somebody else.
They executed this strategy last season. In fact, they did it multiple times. They tried to get Cody Williams going from the get-go, but when it was clear he wasn't ready, they looked into other players who were more NBA-ready.
That wasn't the only instance. As soon as it became clear that George wouldn't be taking the next step many had hoped for, they put Collier in the lineup, where he fit better, although it didn't result in a significant increase in wins. This season, there are more young and talented players, which could open the door for more mid-season changes.
In fact, don't be shocked if the likes of Anderson or Georges Niang are first appointed starters for the team. Both are solid veterans who have already reached their ceilings as player. They are also the bars for their young players to clear.
Developing young talent requires a balance between throwing them to the wolves while also making it clear they will have to work for their role on the team. No matter who starts, the Jazz should have one entertaining game of musical chairs with their lineups throughout this season.