The Utah Jazz are steering their focus toward player development after their recent loss to the Toronto Raptors, which ended 126-118. In a controversial move, the Jazz benched Lauri Markkanen for the second half, despite him scoring 16 points in the first half, while Walker Kessler did not see any action despite being available. This strategic decision comes after the Jazz faced a hefty $100,000 fine from the NBA for misuse of their injury report, particularly for sidelining Markkanen for nine straight games.

The team is now leaning heavily into a tank strategy, prioritizing minutes for their younger talent, such as Isaiah Collier and Cody Williams, over securing wins. The Jazz's approach has drawn mixed reactions, especially with critics arguing against tanking. This season, fans can expect more instances where healthy players are rested, as the organization aims to evaluate its young roster in preparation for the future.