A Utah Jazz analyst wants the franchise to focus on the upcoming draft rather than look at Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen as its cornerstones. It prompted Jazz big man Jusuf Nurkic to comment and troll the analyst on social media.In a post on X, Zack Padmore of Roll Call Sports criticized the idea that the Jazz could be building their future around George and Markkanen. Padmore even urged the franchise to focus on the draft, likely to tank, for players like Cam Boozer and Darryn Peterson.However, Padmore's comments didn't sit well with Nurkic, who quickly defended his teammates and the notion that they should lose on purpose to improve their chances at the No. 1 pick. The $19 million man reposted the analyst's comments along with a picture of Padmore."We should build around you," Nurkic tweeted.Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen are playing like All-Stars this season despite the Utah Jazz's 9-15 record. George has been having a breakout season, averaging 22.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game.Markkanen, meanwhile, is putting up 27.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. He has been linked to several trade rumors over the past year, but he's on a new contract, and the Jazz have put a high price tag on him.As for the upcoming 2026 NBA draft, it has a deep talent pool with at least three franchise-changing players: AJ Dybansta, Cam Boozer and Darryn Peterson. Even if the Jazz don't get a top-three pick, the class is so deep that they could still get a very good prospect.Keyonte George for Most Improved Player of the YearKeyonte George for Most Improved Player of the Year. (Photo: IMAGN)The candidates for this season's Most Improved Player of the Year will likely include Keyonte George. The Utah Jazz guard is having the best season of his career and has improved his scoring, rebounding, assists and shooting percentage to help the team avoid being the worst team in the West.Sarah Todd of Deseret News made an argument for George's chances of winning the award after his career night against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. He finished with 39 points to lead the Jazz to a 130-126 win in Memphis."With just under a third of the season in the books, George will have plenty of time to continue making his case as one of the league’s most improved players and showing his teammates and the Jazz coaching staff that his growth can be trusted," Todd wrote.Other candidates for the award include Deni Avdija, Jalen Duren, Austin Reaves, Jalen Johnson, Josh Giddey and Ryan Rollins.