The Utah Jazz are set to make their preseason debut against the New Zealand Breakers tomorrow. Even though the Jazz likely won't be a playoff team, there's a lot of mystery surrounding who they plan to start.
That's what made their training camp so interesting. There really are a few spots in their rotation that are completely up for grabs, and the Jazz could go in so many directions for how to utilize their roster.
That starts with their starting lineup. Though one could justifiably not read too much into who the Jazz start in a game that doesn't count, it could give a good hint of who's truly competing for one of their spots in the starting lineup.
Point Guard: Keyonte George
George is coming off a promising albeit inefficient rookie season. Now that he's established himself among the more promising young players in Utah, he's primed for a bigger role for the Jazz. Because of that, expect George to get the nod at starting point guard, and it would surprise no one if he never loses that spot pending any severe growing pains.
He has proven himself a promising scorer who will now be challenged to improve on that front along with better playmaking. To establish himself as one of the Jazz's future cornerstones, he has to prove himself valuable as a guard in multiple areas.
Shooting Guard: Collin Sexton
Sexton is coming off a very efficient season with the Jazz, so it would seem preposterous that they wouldn't give him the nod at shooting guard to start. Sexton is one of the best scorers on the Jazz who can complement their players quite well. Unlike George, the Jazz know what they are going to get from Sexton in Year 3.
The question will be if the Jazz see him as a long-term piece or if he's another piece to dangle to a contender at the deadline. Sexton is arguably underpaid for what he does, just as he's arguably better off elsewhere, but regardless of how they see him, the Jazz are in a good situation with him.
Small Forward: Cody Williams
Of all the players selected here, Williams is clearly the most controversial because projecting him as their starting small forward is a tall ask for a rookie even if he was the 10th overall pick.
However, it's really not clear who will start for the Jazz at small forward, and if Williams' body is strong enough to be NBA-ready as he has implied it is, the best way to go about his development, in particular, is to see how he handles the best of the best. Granted, New Zealand isn't the best way to measure that, but it is a good way of starting small for him.
Power Forward: Lauri Markkanen
Yeah, there probably doesn't need a whole lot of elaboration here because it's pretty self-explanatory. However, don't be surprised if Markkanen doesn't play a whole lot compared to the others.
Outside of maybe Sexton, Markkanen is the one projected starter mentioned here with nothing to prove coming into the preseason.
Center: Walker Kessler
Kessler is in the opposite boat as Markkanen, as he has plenty to prove. Since the Jazz will focus on developing their young players first and foremost, Kessler could be their one youngster who everyone will pay the most attention to.
There's no telling is Kessler will play like the hotshot rookie who put the NBA on notice for his elite rim protecting abilities or if he's the regressed sophomore who struggled a bit last season. Odds are he'll probably be somewhere in the middle, but still. Kessler has a chip on his shoulder coming into this season, and his potential redemption tour starts with proving himself in the preseason.