Who is the Utah Jazz's Most Important Player this Season?

Imagine, if you will, a world in which the Utah Jazz must part with all but five players on their roster. Maybe the NBA decided that expansion would stretch well beyond adding just two teams and went wild with 10 expansion organizations. There's going to be a reckoning across the National Basketball Association, and the expansion draft is ensuring that no team can protect more than five players on their roster from being available through the draft. It's chaos. Friend torn from friend. Brother from brother. Basketball as we know it is turned on its head and the Utah Jazz are forced to make one determination: which players are worth protecting, and which players will brave the fears of the expansion draft? Utah's most intriguing youngster, Ace Bailey is still a bit of a question mark for the Utah Jazz as he approaches his second year. He enjoyed a very strong finish to his sophomore year, when weaker lineups gave Bailey room to make his own offense. Posting a career high of 37 points is a fantastic feature of the Rutgers product's resume, and his unique combination of size, length, and scoring ability could make him one of the best players on this team in a matter of years. But that's still potential until Bailey proves his worth on a winning roster. He could get that chance this year. Keyonte George has improved every season since joining the Jazz three years ago, and now, as he approaches his fourth NBA season, it's "prove it" time for Keyonte. Can he provide adequate defense on the perimeter with Darryn Peterson at his hip? Can he continue to shoot efficiently while being the team's primary playmaker in the starting lineup? George proved his worth last year when he challenged for a spot with the Western All-Stars -- this year, he could cement his worth in Utah to earn a very nice contract extension. The Jazz just added Jackson, a multiple-time All-Star and former DPOY, to bolster their defense while providing offensive versatility. Though he played in just four games last year before undergoing season-ending surgery, JJJ should be a feature of this year's team and a steady veteran to lead the young core in the ways of winning basketball. Perhaps the best no-waste scoring option in the NBA, Markkanen put up a career-high of over 27 points per game last year (in 42 games). If he can continue to produce at an All-Star level, Lauri could give Utah the star power it needs to make a push toward the top half of the Western Conference standings. Utah's future begins and ends with this man, Darryn Peterson, whose arrival in Utah comes with the fanfare of an organization savior. Peterson is the superstar that Utah began its rebuild to acquire. Though we still haven't seen him on an NBA court, and therefore can't prove that he's ready to fill the role Utah needs him to, Peterson is easily the most valuable player on the team -- the Jazz's hope is entirely dependent on him. Best Newest first Oldest first