Utah Jazz

Front office and bench

Ownership

Ryan Smith (Smith Entertainment Group)

President of Basketball Operations

Austin Ainge since 2025

General Manager

Justin Zanik since 2019

CEO

Danny Ainge since 2021

Assistants

• Scott MorrisonAssistant coach
• Steve WojciechowskiAssistant coach
• Jason TerryAssistant coach
• Sean SheldonAssistant coach
• Chad ForcierAssistant coach
• Andrew WarrenAssistant coach

The direction

What the franchise says and what its moves show

After a 22-60 season, Utah considers the rebuilding phase over and is openly talking about the playoffs. Austin Ainge presents Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. as his primary duo, with Peterson as the big bet for the future and a collection of Lakers first-round picks held in reserve for trades.

Building around

Lauri Markkanen Jaren Jackson Jr. Darryn Peterson Keyonte George Ace Bailey

What they have said

• He called Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. a dangerous duo and said Peterson is as good as expected.

  President of basketball operations Austin Ainge · Deseret News / KSL Sports · September 2026

• He asked for patience with Peterson: he expects a typical rookie season, with good moments and difficult ones.

  Head coach Will Hardy · KSL Sports · September 2026

Moves

Summer 2026

• Draft: Darryn Peterson (No. 2).
• Walker Kessler goes to the Lakers in a sign-and-trade for two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033) and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030.
• Jaxson Hayes and Josh Okogie sign (two years, $12M each), along with Mo Bamba and Harrison Ingram.
• Jusuf Nurkić re-signs (two years, $22M).
• Trade with Minnesota: Josh Green arrives in exchange for John Konchar and Cody Williams.
• Kevin Love, Oscar Tshiebwe and Elijah Harkless leave in free agency.

Latest

• Oct 17 Conversión Claimed C Tony Bradley off waivers. Converted the contract of F Harrison Ingram to a twpo-way contract. Waived C Jonas Aidoo and G Tamar Bates.
• Oct 17 Two-way contract Converted the contract of F Harrison Ingram to a Two-Way contract. Claimed C Tony Bradley off waivers. Waived C Jonas Aidoo and G Tamar Bates.
• Oct 13 Waived Waived F Mohamed Wague.
• Oct 6 Waived Waived G Terrell Brown Jr.
• Oct 1 Waived Waived G Jaelen House.
• Sep 24 Waived Waived C Ibrahima Diallo and G Justin Harmon.

The roster

15 NBA contracts · 2026-27 salaries

Strengths and weaknesses

Today's roster, facet by facet (league rank)

• Defense 28th
• Rim protection 16th
• Three-point shooting 7th
• Playmaking 25th
• Scoring 4th
• Rebounding 15th
• Offensive impact 20th

Roster holes

• Needs a quality bigIts best big ranks below 79% of the league.
• Weak in defenseWith today’s rotation it ranks 28th in the league in defense.
• Weak in playmakingWith today’s rotation it ranks 25th in the league in playmaking.
• Only 1 center in the rotationOne injury leaves it without a backup in the paint.

Contracts and extensions

Expiring this season

• Josh Green 25 years old · paid 14.7 M Salary coming off the books
• Brice Sensabaugh 22 years old · paid 4.9 M Restricted free agent Re-signing him would cost about 6.3 M a year

Bargains (produce far above their salary, for several years)

None.

Pricey but short (paid more than they produce, but ending soon)

None.

Money and picks

Payroll 181.9 M Cap 165.0 M Tax 200.4 M 1st apron 209.0 M 2nd apron 221.7 M

Payroll

181.9 M · over the cap

Distance to each line

tax: 18.6 M below · 1st apron: 27.1 M below · 2nd apron: 39.8 M below

Next summer

192.0 M committed · no cap space

First-rounders it can trade

2031 · holds 2 other teams’ firsts and 9 swaps

Radar and possible trades

Who could ask about its players

For now, no buyer fits what it has.

A trade that works under the CBA

Trade pieces

Assets

Jaxson Hayes (worth 7.1 M more than his salary), Kyle Filipowski (worth 4.6 M more than his salary)

Contracts that weigh

Ace Bailey (overpaid by 10.0 M)

To match salaries

Josh Green (14.7 M)