The trade adds talent to the Jazz’s frontcourt and looks to push them towards playoff contention next season.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy with Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23), Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) and Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) as the Utah Jazz host the LA Clippers, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025.
“It’s about to be exciting,” Keyonte George said with a smile.
It had only been a couple of hours since the Jazz made one of the biggest trades of the NBA season, sending out Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, and Georges Niang to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale, and Vince Williams Jr.
George, the third-year Jazz point guard who has catapulted himself to near-stardom this year, was still processing the trade at about 4 p.m. MT Tuesday.
But as he spoke, he started to get a bit giddy.
“I’ve been here for two years now. Lauri’s been through a lot. Walker has been through a lot. To get a player like that, that has been to the playoffs, has got all the accolades — I’m pretty sure he’s just worried about winning,” George said. “That’s something that we want to be a part of.”
With the addition of Jackson, Jr., the Jazz’s front court could be the largest in the league. The 6-foot-10 Jackson can play either the power forward or center spot. Markkanen, a 7-footer, can play any of the front court spots. Don’t forget Kessler, out for the rest of this season but slated to return next year, as a shot-blocking center in the middle.
“I think obviously the exciting part is Walker and Jaren, you know. That frontcourt is crazy,” George said. “And then with Lauri and just the versatility — I know Will is a phenomenal coach, so I just already know the crazy things that he’s gonna do with them.”
“Walker can be a great presence, but now he also knows that he got somebody behind him,” George continued. “It’s rare that you can know somebody has got your back when you’re the person that’s got everybody back.”
Cody Williams, himself growing into a good defensive player, saw the potential on that end of the court right away.
“That’s the big thing, especially to become a championship team — which is what we want to be — defense is a big focal point for that,” Williams said. “So, it’s nice to see that Jaren Jackson, Jr. is coming. He adds a lot of versatility, offensively and defensively, so it’s gonna help us a bunch.”
Those in the locker room wanted to be sure to note the loss of four of their teammates in the deal. George was especially close to Taylor Hendricks, who was drafted in 2023 just seven picks before him. He said he has a great deal of affection for Clayton, Jr., as well, and learned much from veterans Niang and Anderson.
“It’s hard to kind of accept that it’s a business, especially when you develop a relationship with these guys. It’s always tough seeing people come and go,” Williams said.
But the deal reflects a turning point for the Jazz, Markkanen thought.
“I mean, we’ve got to put it to work. But I think it’s a really high-potential lineup. He’s obviously a high-level player, Defensive Player of the Year, and he’s shown what he can do on teams,” Markkanen said. “So I’m really excited.”
And even Jazz head coach Will Hardy — who wasn’t authorized to discuss the trade on the record, but was cheekily asked how he felt Tuesday in the trade’s wake, said simply: “I’m very excited about the future of the Jazz.”
Seems the emotion might be contagious.
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