Jaxson Hayes opens first Jazz season amid starting-spot competition
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The gist
Jaxson Hayes, the 2019 No. 8 pick, is on the Utah Jazz opening night roster.
He is competing with Ace Bailey for a starting spot as Utah's frontcourt thins.
Background
Jaxson Hayes is a Utah Jazz center-forward, the No. 8 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, now beginning his first season with the Jazz and his eighth year in the league after signing with Utah in July. He lands in a frontcourt that has thinned out: Jusuf Nurkic has been out since Oct. 4 with a partial torn plantar plate in his right foot (to be reevaluated in two to three weeks) and Kyle Filipowski is out with a lower-back issue with no timetable. Four Jazz starting spots are described as locked — Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. — leaving Hayes in a preseason competition for the fifth.
How it unfolded
- Jul 2026Jaxson Hayes signs with the Utah Jazz.
- Oct 17, 2026Reports say Hayes could use the preseason game in Phoenix as his final proving ground for the fifth starting spot.
- Oct 18, 2026A Utah Jazz Reacts fan survey asks whether fans prefer Ace Bailey or Jaxson Hayes to start alongside Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr.
- Oct 20, 2026The 2026-27 NBA season tips off with Hayes on the Jazz opening night roster; Utah opens Wednesday vs. Memphis.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- SLC Dunk's James Hansen argues Utah hasn't seen a center like Hayes play next to Jaren Jackson Jr. and either improve his deficiencies or help the team win more, so it's time to start Ace Bailey at the three and let Hayes come off the bench if Jackson gets into foul trouble.
- Support
- The Daily Herald describes Hayes as a big-time finisher at the rim.
Still unverified
The Lakers' reported trade calls and exploratory talks are attributed to reporters citing sources, and the Bucks' reported resistance to anything less than two second round picks for Jericho Sims is also sourced reporting.