With the NBA regular season in the rearview mirror, front offices across the league are already deep in draft preparations. For the Utah Jazz, the 2026 NBA Draft represents a pivotal opportunity to add a cornerstone piece to their young core. As scouts finalize their boards following a thrilling college basketball season capped by Michigan's March Madness victory, the picture of this draft class is coming into focus.

The official draft order will be set at the NBA Draft Lottery on May 10th in Chicago, immediately followed by the draft combine. Based on current projections, the Jazz are poised to make a significant selection.

According to the latest USA TODAY mock draft, which uses Tankathon.com's order and accounts for existing trades, the Utah Jazz are projected to select with the No. 5 overall pick. The prediction points them toward addressing a critical team need: defense.

Finishing with the worst defensive rating in the Western Conference, Utah could look to Houston freshman guard Kingston Flemings. An All-Big 12 selection, Flemings is a dynamic two-way player who could form an exciting backcourt alongside Keyonte George. He brings a proven knack for creating turnovers, with multiple games of three or more steals—including an eight-steal masterpiece against Arizona State. His offensive ceiling is just as high, evidenced by a 42-point explosion against No. 11 Texas Tech in January. After helping lead Houston to the Sweet 16, Flemings' combination of defensive tenacity and scoring punch makes him a prime candidate to make an immediate impact in Salt Lake City.