3 Jazz Players That Should Hold ‘Untouchable’ Status Moving Forward

The Utah Jazz have the ammo to make a deal but need to hold off on involving these guys.

While the Utah Jazz have the means to make about any deal they could dream of with the assets they currently have, there remain a few prized possessions on board that shouldn’t be looked at as any type of trade piece. There are a few steps this team needs to take to reach the next level of team prestige, but it can’t come at the cost of any franchise cornerstone.

Much of the Jazz roster remains fluid. There’s a good chunk of young talent aboard that could be coveted by a few opposing GMs, as well as some key role players that may be able to help a contender’s playoff push. However, there looks to be a few guys in Utah that should not even be considered to be a part of a package.

With that, here are three players that the Jazz should award ‘untouchable’ status to:

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Walker Kessler

We haven’t seen much of Walker Kessler to start this season, but we know the type of impact he can bring this team on a nightly basis. As the defensive anchor and future center for Utah, it makes it difficult to foresee any reason why Danny Ainge and Co. would be interested in a move to ship him off.

Kessler proved throughout his rookie year he’s already one of the most impactful shot blockers and rim protectors in the NBA. He averaged over two blocks a game in his first two seasons at only 22 years old, posting a defensive rating of 111 in 2022-23. When you also include the implications of his cheap rookie contract he’ll be inked onto until the summer of 2026, there’s immense value that Utah holds here.

His offensive development still could use some work, but the Jazz have a timeline to accommodate that. Regardless, his ability as this team’s strongest defender keeps him locked into Utah without any real chance of a potential trade.

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Keyonte George

One of the biggest risers on this Jazz roster early into the season has been none other than the 16th-overall pick, Keyonte George. Finding a place within the starting lineup just eight games into the year, it’s clear Will Hardy and the rest of the Jazz staff have a vision in place for the Baylor product.

He’s shown a super impressive ability to make plays for his teammates and command an NBA offense at only 19 years old. That type of talent is invaluable, especially on this Jazz roster lacking facilitators. Even if an enticing package were on the table, it would be hard to see any reasoning to move off of the potential we’ve seen so far.

As things currently look, Keyonte should be the Jazz’s starting point guard for the near and distant future with no hopes of dishing him elsewhere.

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Lauri Markkanen

While many question his ability to be a true number-one option on this team or how he can effectively lead this team down the stretch, Lauri Markkanen's place on this Jazz roster should be solidified. Through Utah's first 15 games of the season, it’s clear that Lauri has maintained as the best go-to offensive option.

During his 2023-24 campaign, he’s averaged 23.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists on some solid efficiency (48.4/38.3/84.0). He also stands on one of the most team-friendly contracts in the entire NBA, slotted to make just $35 million across the next two seasons for All-Star-level production.

Unless there is a sure-fire superstar package you can get in return for Markkanen, or a contract extension isn’t able to be reached, his standing on this team should be set for the foreseeable future. The Jazz front office needs to find players that work well around Markkanen and complement his game to pair next to him rather than seek a deal involving him.

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