The Utah Jazz are working through a handful of rotation questions as opening night approaches, and the answers will say a lot about how the team plans to use its roster early in the season. With Jusuf Nurkic sidelined by a foot injury, the center spot is the most pressing decision, but it is not the only one. How Utah deploys veteran addition Josh Okogie and rookie Ace Bailey will also shape the opening-night rotation.
Jaxson Hayes Emerges As The Likely Starter
Jaxson Hayes looks like the favorite to open the season as Utah’s starting center with Nurkic out, according to CBS Sports. Hayes made his case in a preseason win over the San Antonio Spurs, scoring 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line to go with two rebounds in 15 minutes. That kind of efficiency in limited time is exactly what a team wants to see from a fill-in starter before the games count.
The bigger question is how long Hayes holds that job. Utah could mix and match at center depending on matchups, per CBS Sports, which suggests the staff is not locking into one answer before the regular season starts. That flexibility matters for a team still figuring out its identity up front without its presumed starting five intact.
Nurkic’s Absence Forces The Issue
None of this center conversation happens without Nurkic’s foot injury pulling him out of the mix. The Jazz have not been able to simply pencil in their presumed starter, which is why Hayes’ preseason performance carries extra weight. Utah has already dealt with Nurkic’s toe tear keeping him out for weeks, and that absence is the direct reason the center rotation is unsettled heading into the opener.
Ace Bailey’s First-Unit Chances
Utah could also deploy Ace Bailey in the first unit at times, according to CBS Sports, giving the team another option to stagger based on who it is facing. That kind of situational usage for a young player typically signals a coaching staff still evaluating lineups rather than committing to a fixed starting five from day one.
Josh Okogie’s Defensive Fit
Josh Okogie joined Utah as an offseason acquisition after spending last season with the Houston Rockets, where he shot 38.5% from three-point range across 78 appearances. At 28 years old, Okogie has spent his career as a role player, and Yahoo Sports described him as a physical, experienced presence who communicates well and can help younger teammates on the defensive end.
That profile fits a roster that includes Jaren Jackson Jr., regarded as one of the best defenders in the NBA, and rookie Darryn Peterson in the backcourt. Okogie’s experience could make him a steadying voice for a group that still has significant youth to manage, particularly as Peterson adjusts to the pace of NBA games.
Roster Trimmed Before The Opener
Utah also cleared roster spots this week, waiving forwards Taylor Funk and Chance Moore on Oct. 14, 2026, according to NBA.com. Funk, who played at Utah State, appeared in 41 games for the San Diego Clippers last season, averaging 11.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 26.2 minutes. Moore, a West Virginia product, averaged 10.6 points on 53.1% shooting with 5.8 rebounds in 22.3 minutes across 29 games last season. Neither move directly affects the center or wing questions above, but it does confirm Utah is finalizing its roster shape just days before tipoff.
The Counterpoint: Preseason Numbers Have Limits
None of Hayes’ preseason production guarantees he holds the starting job once games count. A 15-minute sample against the Spurs is a small window, and Utah’s stated willingness to mix and match at center suggests the coaching staff views this as an open competition rather than a settled decision. The same caution applies to Bailey’s first-unit opportunities, which were described as situational rather than permanent.
What To Watch On Opening Night
The clearest signal of Utah’s plan will come in the opening lineup itself. Whether Hayes starts at center, how quickly Bailey sees first-unit minutes and how Okogie is used alongside Jackson on defense will all offer early evidence of how the Jazz intend to manage their rotation while Nurkic recovers. For more on the moves that shaped this roster, see the Jazz’s decision to waive Funk and Moore and the team’s earlier update on the Nurkic toe injury timeline.
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