New Jazz Roster Opens Season Against Nuggets

SALT LAKE CITY – After the most tumultuous offseason in franchise history, the Utah Jazz have a new roster, and are preparing to host the Denver Nuggets in the season opener on Wednesday night.

There will be 12 new faces on the Jazz bench this season, with only Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Rudy Gay, Udoka Azubuike, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker returning from last year’s roster.

Here’s a quick guide to the 12 new faces that made the Jazz roster and how they found their way to Utah.

New Faces On Jazz Season-Opening Roster

Kelly Olynyk – The tenth-year center was acquired in the Bojan Bogdanovic trade from the Detroit Pistons and started each game for the Jazz during the preseason.

Malik Beasley – The seventh-year guard joined the Jazz in the Rudy Gobert and figures to be a major part of the team’s offense, though he missed the team’s final two preseason games with a sprained ankle.

Lauri Markkanen – The sixth-year forward was acquired by the Jazz in the Donovan Mitchell trade and led the team in scoring during the preseason at 16.5 points per game.

Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton are the new faces of the @utahjazz.

At media day, Markkanen spoke of bringing his EuroBasket play back to the NBA, while Sexton is looking out for his teammates. #TakeNote | @BensHoops https://t.co/dNH9oozx40

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 26, 2022

Collin Sexton – The fifth-year guard was acquired by the Jazz in a sign-and-trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Mitchell, and will earn $71 million over the next four seasons.

Jarred Vanderbilt – The fifth-year forward was acquired by the Jazz in the Gobert trade and was a prominent part of the rotation during the preseason.

Talen Horton-Tucker – The fourth-year forward was sent to the Jazz by the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Patrick Beverley and was a fixture in the team’s second unit during the preseason.

Leandro Bolmaro – The second-year guard was acquired in the Gobert trade and was rarely used during the preseason but made the roster over Jared Butler.

Micah Potter – The second-year center signed a two-way contract with the Jazz but didn’t appear in any preseason games.

Ochai Agbaji – The rookie wing was acquired in the Mitchell trade from the Cavaliers after being selected with the 14th pick of June’s NBA Draft.

What are the @utahjazz getting in Ochai Agbaji?

We break down the Jazz new 3-and-D rookie here. #TakeNote https://t.co/XkZ5lTJ6i2

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 2, 2022

Simone Fontecchio – The Italian rookie forward joined the Jazz over the summer and played sparingly in preseason despite being the team’s only true free-agent signing.

Johnny Juzang – The rookie signed a two-way deal with the Jazz on draft night after going unselected out of UCLA.

Walker Kessler – The rookie center was acquired in the Gobert trade and was the Jazz most promising first-year player in each of the four preseason games.

Healthy Nuggets Look To Make A Splash

The Nuggets are looking to improve this season after the roster was riddled with injuries over the last two years.

Jamal Murray missed all of the 2022-23 campaigns after tearing his ACL in April of 2021. Michael Porter Jr. appeared in only nine games last season before undergoing back surgery in November.

With two-time reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic returning and the addition of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Nuggets will look to compete for a top spot in the crowded Western Conference playoff chase.

Jazz And Nuggets Broadcast

The Jazz and Nuggets will tip off at 7 pm at Vivint Arena. The game will be televised on AT&T SportsNet and can be heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. The games will also be streamed on DirecTV Stream and FuboTV.

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