Kyle

Filipowski

Unsurprisingly, Kessler will miss the second leg of Utah’s back-to-back set after landing on the injury report late on Friday afternoon. In his absence, Oscar Tshiebwe, KJ Martin and Kyle Filipowski should pick up the slack by committee.

Markkanen has appeared in three straight games after missing nine in a row, but he could sit out for the second leg of Utah’s back-to-back set. If he’s ruled out, Brice Sensabaugh and Kyle Filipowski could see increased run.

John Collins has already been ruled out, and if Kessler or Markkanen are sidelined, Utah’s frontcourt would be mightily shorthanded. Players like Cody Williams, Kyle Filipowski and Micah Potter could help to pick up the slack, though none of the trio would be a particularly attractive streaming option.

With both big men sidelined, Kyle Filipowski and Drew Eubanks should see increased run. Filipowski has appeared in seven games with at least 25 minutes played and averaged 9.7 points and 8.0 rebounds in the process. Eubanks has averaged 12.5 points and 8.0 boards in two games with the same number of minutes, but Eubanks has shot-blocking upside that Filipowski doesn’t. Neither are tremendous streamers, but Eubanks is the preferred option if you’re looking to stream a Jazz center.

Collins is unlikely to take the court against a big Cleveland frontcourt, which means Walker Kessler could slide into the starting lineup in his place. Kyle Filipowski is likely to see increased run as a result.

Markkanen totaled seven points (3-of-5), three rebounds and an assist in the first half. Kyle Filipowski started for the star wing in the second half of the contest and will get a chance to make his mark.

After struggling during Utah’s summer league games in Salt Lake City, Filipowski looked more comfortable in Las Vegas. The role likely had something to do with that, as Walker Kessler’s absence led to the rookie being moved from power forward to center. While Filipowski did encounter some issues defensively, he has the offensive skill set needed to force mismatches on the other end. With Utah appearing to be all-in on the 2025 draft class, playing time may not be hard to come by for the rookie. And if the Jazz were to trade Lauri Markkanen, Filipowski’s fantasy ceiling would increase significantly.

Despite a slow start to the summer, Filipowski has played much better during their games in Las Vegas. He moved into the starting lineup and has scored in double figures in four straight games. However, that isn’t a role that will be there for him during the regular season. Filipowski will be in a reserve role, though he has shown some upside so far this summer. If the Jazz make moves at the trade deadline, he could be a player that shines during silly season in extended minutes.

After struggling to begin summer league play, Filipowski has steadily improved for the Jazz. Since the action shifted from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, he has been used as a center, with Walker Kessler no longer playing. The position change has benefitted Filipowski, whose comfort on the perimeter enables Utah to play a five-out system on offense. He does need to improve defensively, but the stats (three steals and one blocked shot) were there on Wednesday. Filipowski would have value as a late-round pick if Utah’s roster goes unchanged. However, he’s a player whose fantasy value would benefit significantly if the Jazz were offered a deal for Lauri Markkanen that they could not refuse.

After coming off the bench during Utah’s games in Salt Lake City, Filipowski moved into the starting lineup for the Jazz’s Las Vegas opener. He filled the void left by Walker Kessler, moving into the center position. Whether or not Filipowski can defend that position full-time at the NBA level remains to be seen, but the more versatile he is, the better it will be for him in terms of minutes. Taylor Hendricks (8/8/4/1/3) offered good defensive production next to the rookie, blocking three shots, and that kind of cover may be required to ensure Filipowski is successful when asked to play the five.