Jazz Rumors: Lauri Markkanen, Kevin Love, Walker Kessler, Will Hardy

The Jazz are living in the gray area that now defines the NBA’s middle class.

At 10-17 and buried in the Western Conference standings, Utah is balancing two priorities at once. Namely, they’d like to stay competitive enough to develop the core, while protecting their top-eight–protected 2026 first-round pick.

If that pick slips outside the protection, it heads to the reigning champion Thunder.

That reality appears to be shaping everything, per Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal.

Who Stays, Who Moves

Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George remain foundational pieces. Everyone else is more fluid.

Veterans Kyle Anderson, Jusuf Nurkic, Kevin Love and Georges Niang are all viewed around the league as potential trade candidates, sources told Afseth. None would qualify as a franchise-altering move, but each could help Utah manage its trajectory.

Kessler Still Part of Plan

Walker Kessler remains a longer-term question, Afseth wrote.

Early extension talks stalled when Kessler sought total compensation north of $120 million, a number Utah wasn’t prepared to meet. As it stands, he would need to find that type of offer in restricted free agency for the Jazz to consider matching.

The Pacers are one team known to have interest. Utah, however, continues to signal it wants to keep Kessler in the fold.

Confidence in Hardy

One thing the Jazz are not questioning is leadership.

The organization remains confident in head coach Will Hardy as the long-term figure to guide Utah out of its rebuild, Afseth reported. That belief extends to ownership.

The roster may change. The approach may shift. But the plan, for now, stays steady.