Jazz Mailbag: Starting lineup predictions, free agent targets and more

The 2026 NBA Draft is less than two weeks away. That means the Utah Jazz are just a few days away from making the No. 2 selection and potentially changing the franchise for the foreseeable future.

In the words of Swedish ’80s rock band, Europe, “It’s the final countdown!”

So, I’ve opened up the mailbag for one more predraft/NBA offseason edition.

Health, readiness, a little bit of luck to help along the process.

I don’t think that it’s impossible for the No. 2 pick, no matter who it ends up being, to be in the starting lineup on opening night. Would kind of make sense for some fanfare, right?

There are two things that are holding me back from saying outright that the Jazz will start their first-round pick right out of the gate. First, the Jazz have so far preferred to give their young players some time to acclimate to the NBA game before starting them and also kind of making them earn that spot.

Second, I’m not sure that training camp will give the Jazz sufficient time/data to decide who they want being the first player off the bench and who will be supplanted from the current starting five in order to make room for the rookie.

But, whoever the No. 2 pick ends up being could absolutely show themselves to be ready with a really dominant training camp and preseason. With some luck on their side, a healthy offseason and ramp-up to opening night, and proving that they are ready, they could make the decision a no-brainer for Will Hardy and Co.

With the amount that the Jazz had to manipulate the roster and minutes over the last couple of years to get losses, and the talent that they have, I think it is really fair to say that a realistic floor and the expectation is that the team will, at the very least, make the Play-In tournament this season.

Ceiling is a little harder to predict without a crystal ball. I don’t think anyone is expecting the Jazz to be at Thunder or Spurs level right out of the gate (crazier things have happened, though), so I wouldn’t project them to be at the top of the Western Conference. But, middle of the pack in the West feels like a safe ceiling prediction.

• On draft night, the Jazz are going to take the opportunity to get another pick if it presents itself and makes sense. The price needs to be right and it all has to come together in the right moment, so it’s less about buzz than it is timing.
• If I were Austin Ainge, the person who is in charge of making decisions for the Jazz, I’d be looking really hard at some depth on the wing. Some names that come to mind right away are guys like Kelly Oubre, Ayo Dosunmu, Quentin Grimes.
• Based on reporting so far, it sounds like the Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers are the most likely landing spots for Giannis Antetokounmpo. As far as Kawhi is concerned, let’s wait and see what happens with the NBA investigation into the Clippers and any possible cap circumvention before we predict anything else. LeBron James? Well, the most likely answer is probably the Lakers. But I prefer a shakeup so I’d like to see him go to the Warriors and finally play with Stephen Curry.
• Gotta be the Spurs.

Far be it from me to even pretend that I have the amount of basketball knowledge that Will Hardy will forget in the next week. But, I’m game for a little bit of wild speculation.

With the game on the line, Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, Jaren Jackson Jr., Walker Kessler and Ace Bailey are on the court (I could be convinced to put in the incoming rookie for Bailey depending on the situation and player, but that’s an unknown right now).

First option will be a dribble-hand-off from Jackson to Markkanen with a little bit of a flare screen after. It’s a classic Markkanen shot, curling around the screen for a quick release. But, George has proven to hit some high-pressure shots, so having him as a roaming second option off a weakside screen is great. And if the defense swarms, dump off for a dunk to either Jackson or Kessler.