Utah pivoted to a purposeful draft, adding Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr. as immediate‑impact prospects with clear upside. The analysis credits a deliberate, “draft with purpose” approach that pairs Bailey’s 6’10” versatility with Clayton’s elite shooting and late‑clutch flair. If development and coaching align, Utah can accelerate its rebuild while offering fantasy managers a duo with day‑one relevance and long‑term upside.

John Tonje signed a two-way deal with the Utah Jazz, allowing him to split time between Utah and the Salt Lake City Stars. The former Wisconsin standout joins a Jazz roster that sits at 19 players and must trim to 18 by October. Tonje impressed in summer league with 10 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 2.5 APG, including a 16-point debut against the Spurs, offering floor-stretching shooting and playmaking potential behind Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler.

As Tonje works to earn NBA minutes, Utah’s depth chart features Ace Bailey, Cody Williams, and Kyle Anderson behind Markkanen and Kessler. The Jazz open the 2025-26 season against the Clippers, with high hopes to rebound from a 17-65 campaign. Tonje’s path will hinge on his ability to translate summer league shooting into NBA opportunities, likely via two-way assignments and spot duty with the Jazz.

The Utah Jazz concluded their Summer League campaign with a 105-92 defeat against the Chicago Bulls, finishing with a 4-4 record. A slow start proved costly, as they trailed by 23 points at halftime with only 28 points scored. Cody Williams led the Jazz with a standout performance, scoring 26 points and contributing five rebounds and three assists. His shooting from beyond the arc showed promise, but the team's overall shooting woes, marked by a 36.6% field goal percentage and 27.7% from three, hindered their chances. Others like Max Abmas and Elijah Harkless added to the score sheet, but their contributions were too late to turn the tide. The Jazz's second-round draft pick, John Tonje, struggled significantly, exacerbating the team's turnover issues with six turnovers.

The Utah Jazz secured an impressive 86-76 victory over the Washington Wizards in the Las Vegas Summer League, showcasing the talents of their 2024 first-round draft picks. Cody Williams and Isaiah Collier combined for a whopping 40 points, leading the Jazz to their first win of the tournament.

Williams led the team with 23 points, shooting 9 of 16 from the field, along with two rebounds, two assists, and two steals. His performance was highlighted by three three-pointers and a team-high plus/minus of +15. Collier contributed significantly with 17 points on 7 of 17 shooting, adding two rebounds and three assists. The team's strong performance was further bolstered by Elijah Harkless, who scored 10 points with six assists, and Max Abmas, who added 15 points off the bench. The Wizards struggled, particularly from beyond the arc, shooting just 20% on three-pointers and turning the ball over 17 times. The Jazz will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matchup against the Chicago Bulls.

Utah Jazz rookie Cody Williams has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2024-25 season due to mononucleosis. Initially sidelined for a game against the Charlotte Hornets due to illness, subsequent testing confirmed the viral infection. The 10th overall pick in the draft will undergo reevaluation in three weeks before resuming offseason conditioning. Williams averaged 4.6 points and 2.3 rebounds over 50 games this season, showing flashes of potential despite limited playing time.

He concluded the season with a career-high of 13 points against the Phoenix Suns earlier this year and also had a notable stint with the Salt Lake City Stars in the G League, where he averaged 17.1 points. While his rookie campaign was marked by inconsistency, Williams demonstrated his upside, suggesting a promising future in the NBA.