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.

Wisconsin will stage its annual Red-White Scrimmage on Oct 19 at 1 p.m. at the Kohl Center, a window into the Badgers’ rotation before the season begins. Last year’s Red featured Blackwell, Crowl, McGee and Amos as starters while White included Gilmore, Hunter, Klesmit, Tonje and Winter, hinting at Gard’s nine-man core.

This season brings five transfers—Austin Rapp, Andrew Rohde, Nick Boyd, Braeden Carrington and Elijah Gray—expected to push Winter and Blackwell into a starting mix, with Carrington and Gray likely to see substantial second-unit minutes. The scrimmage is a tune-up before the Oct 24 exhibition vs Oklahoma and won’t affect metrics but will reveal depth and fit.

Keep an eye on how Wisconsin integrates the newcomers alongside holdovers, as early minutes could shape fantasy-friendly roles once the regular season tips off.

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.

Tonje signs a two-way with Utah after being the 53rd pick, a move that sets up a season split between the NBA and the Salt Lake City Stars. He averaged 19.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 1.8 APG with 38.8% from three last season, led NCAA free throws (231), and paced the Big Ten in scoring with 724 points. He debuted in Summer League with 10 PPG and 4.5 RPG but was slowed by a right ankle sprain. With a $636,435 two-way salary and a 50-game NBA window, Tonje joins a Jazz rookie class that includes Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr. for meaningful potential fantasy upside.

He’ll contend for a backing role behind Utah’s guards and wings, with the Stars serving as his development ground. The two-way path means real NBA minutes could arrive if call-ups are warranted by injuries or depth needs, keeping Tonje on radars for fantasy managers who chase late-season breakouts or spot starts from a guard/wing with shooting polish.

Utah Jazz fans are steeling for a season built on the long view, not quick wins, as a total roster renovation works to establish depth and flexibility. The 2025-26 schedule lays out three viewing lanes—milestones, reunions, and wild cards—giving fantasy owners concrete checkpoints to chase: opening-night fire, a potential NBA Cup spark, and a high-stakes run to the trade deadline. A steady stream of rookie debuts and notable returns provides multiple paths to value, even as tanking odds loom large.

Milestones anchor the year: Opening Night on Oct. 22 against the Clippers kicks off a sequence of firsts for Bailey, Clayton Jr., and Tonje; the NBA Cup opener vs the Suns tests depth in a mini-tournament setting; the Deadlines’ February clash with the Pacers could reshape the roster; the March 5 home stretch versus the Wizards will sharpen late-season decisions and draft odds dynamics. Reunions bring drama: John Collins returns in Salt Lake City, Collin Sexton seeks revenge in January, and Jordan Clarkson makes a fashionably loud homecoming against the Knicks. The Wild Card section swirls with Rutgers-tinged intrigue and tank chatter across the league, keeping every Jazz game a potential fantasy pivot.