Utah Jazz DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

Tony Jones of The Athletic reports that Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler beefed up to 272 pounds after weighing 245 last season. Starting in 40 games in 2022-23, the 23-year-old made only 22 starts in last year's campaign.A bulkier Kessler will again have to compete for playing time, with the Jazz having a deep frontcourt as Lauri Markkanen andJohn Collins will command most of the starter minutes. The young center will likely not be a fantasy factor for the 2024-25 season.

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen is happy to remain on the team following an offseason full of trade rumors. "It was a nice feeling to know that a lot of teams wanted you to play for their franchise," Markkanen told Tony Jones of The Athletic. "It was kind of a cool thing to be honest. It tells me that I've been able to get a lot better as a player. But I tried not to think about it beyond that. I know that I wanted to come back to Utah, and that's where my priorities were." Markkanen, who signed a five-year, $238 million extension on Aug. 7, has been the main man in Utah for the last couple of campaigns, and his fantasy value could have taken a significant hit with a move elsewhere.

Utah Jazz point guard Collin Sexton appears full of confidence ahead of the new campaign, making a bold claim that he's among the best players in the NBA in his position. Sexton was asked on the Come And Talk 2 Me podcast if he's a top 10 point guard in the league. "If I'm putting myself in there, for sure," said Sexton. "I put myself against anybody. At the end of the day, I don't back down from nobody. I got a different type of chip on my shoulder. I got a different type of grind that when I step between those lines, it's me against you." Utah and fantasy managers alike would be delighted if Sexton could consistently play like a top-10 point guard. The 25-year-old enjoyed a strong finish to last campaign, averaging 20.8 points and 5.8 assists after the All-Star break.

Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton could be involved in another trade only two seasons after arriving from Cleveland. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, there is a "belief" among rival executives that Sexton could be on the trade market this summer, along with Jordan Clarkson, who has already previously been linked with a move elsewhere. Sexton has played well with the Jazz, averaging 18.7 points and a career-high 4.9 assists in 2023-24. But he could welcome a change of scenery as well after finding himself as a member of the second unit for large parts of his stay in Salt Lake City. The 25-year-old has two more seasons to go on his contract and will be paid $18.35 million in 2024-25.

According to Evan Sidery of Forbes Sports, Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (shoulder) won't suit up for Finland during the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The 27-year-old has spent the last two seasons in Utah, and he finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting 39.9% from downtown. However, he appeared in only 55 games last season, including missing 17 of Utah's final 21 contests because of a right shoulder injury. Fortunately, Markkanen is expected to get the green light for on-court activities in August. With that said, Markkanen could be at least a top-30 fantasy option. But he's had trouble staying healthy since entering the league, which could continue to impact his potential for fantasy managers.