Utah Jazz embrace a youth movement after a 17-65 season, shipping off Collins, Clarkson and Sexton to clear room for nine rookies. Ace Bailey, Walter Clayton Jr., and others join a very young core, with Will Hardy guiding development as Austin Ainge grants the keys.

Markkanen remains the centerpiece on a long-term deal, while breakout bets center on Walker Kessler, Keyonte George, Hendricks and Filipowski as Utah prioritizes growth over instant wins.

Jazz executives embrace a full youth movement, insisting minutes must be earned in a meritocracy as nine first- and second- year players anchor the roster. Ace Bailey, Walter Clayton Jr., John Tonje, Cody Williams, Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski, Taylor Hendricks, Keyonte George and Brice Sensabaugh pace a young core while veterans like Lauri Markkanen, Georges Niang and Walker Kessler provide guidance. Will Hardy stresses accountability and fluid rotations, balancing development with competitiveness to avoid stunting growth or tanking the lottery. The plan hinges on tough competition, injuries and continued improvement as the season unfolds.

Taylor Hendricks faces a pivotal return for Utah after a brutal leg injury, with fantasy managers weighing his ceiling as a 3-and-D wing in a rebuilding Jazz. His path back, minutes, and shooting volume will determine early-round value this season. The piece also centers Keyonte George and Brice Sensabaugh as fellow 2023 lottery peers and contrasts Hendricks with past Jazz stars via injury lessons from Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gobert, and Donovan Mitchell in the team’s rebuild saga.

In that context, Hendricks’ health and role loom large for fantasy, while Utah’s long-term plan edges toward a core of versatile wings. The balance of defense, three-point shooting, and lane aggression will define not just his own trajectory but how aggressively fantasy managers chase Jazz exposure as the rebuild unfolds.