Jazz Face Tough Decisions on Expansion Draft Protections

Utah would have to leave several promising young players unprotected if an NBA expansion draft were held today.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:41pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

With the NBA exploring expansion to 32 teams in Las Vegas and Seattle, the Utah Jazz would face difficult choices on which players to protect in an expansion draft. The team's core of Keyonte George, Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen, Ace Bailey, and Walker Kessler would likely be protected, but the Jazz would have to leave several other promising young players unprotected, including Isaiah Collier, Cody Williams, and Brice Sensabaugh.

Why it matters

An expansion draft would force the Jazz to make tough decisions on their roster, potentially losing valuable young talent that has helped the team rebuild. This would shake up rosters across the NBA, as each team would only be able to protect 8 players from being selected by the new franchises.

The details

In an expansion draft, each NBA team can protect 8 players on their roster, leaving the remaining players available to be selected by the new teams. The Jazz would likely protect their starting five of Keyonte George, Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen, Ace Bailey, and Walker Kessler, as they are considered the team's core pieces for the future. However, the Jazz would then have to decide which of their other promising young players like Isaiah Collier, Cody Williams, and Brice Sensabaugh to leave unprotected, risking losing them to the expansion teams.

  • The NBA is expected to hold a vote at the Board of Governors meetings on March 24-25, 2026 to explore adding expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle.
  • The two new franchises are targeted to begin play in the 2028-29 NBA season.

The players

Keyonte George

A 22-year-old guard who is on an All-Star trajectory and a cornerstone of the Jazz's future.

Jaren Jackson Jr.

The former Defensive Player of the Year is a key piece of the Jazz's frontcourt and defense.

Lauri Markkanen

The Jazz are committed to Markkanen as a cornerstone of their roster on a hefty contract.

Ace Bailey

The rookie wing has shown flashes of being a star-level player and would be a priority to protect.

Walker Kessler

The defensive anchor is set to be a core piece of the Jazz for years to come.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Just in: The NBA will hold a vote at the Board of Governors meetings March 24-25 to explore adding expansion teams exclusively in Las Vegas and Seattle, with the two franchises targeted for the 2028-29 season, sources tell ESPN. There is momentum for stakeholders to approve…”

— Shams Charania (Twitter)

What’s next

The NBA's Board of Governors will vote on March 24-25, 2026 to determine if expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle will move forward, with the new teams targeted to begin play in the 2028-29 season.

The takeaway

The potential expansion draft would force the Jazz to make difficult decisions on their roster, potentially losing valuable young talent that has helped the team rebuild. This highlights the challenges teams face in maintaining continuity and developing young cores in the modern NBA.