Stunning NBA Trade: Timberwolves Steal Rising Star Cody Williams from Jazz

Rising Utah Jazz swingman Cody Williams is back in the headlines after missing the final game of the 2026 NBA Summer League with an untimely illness, but team officials say the 21-year-old should be ready when training camp tips off next month. Williams, the 12th pick in the 2024 draft, averaged 8.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists on 46.8 percent shooting during the 2025-26 regular season, carving out a two-way role that showcased his length on defense and explosive first step on offense. Despite flashes of starter upside, new head coach Mike D’Antoni is reportedly penciling Williams in as a top-of-the-bench option for the 2026-27 campaign, setting up a three-player battle with veteran Malik Beasley and second-year guard Keyonte George. WHY THE JAZZ ARE BEING PATIENT Utah’s front office still views Williams as a long-term cornerstone, but league insiders say the Jazz want to lighten his workload after he added 15 pounds of muscle this offseason and retooled his jumper with shooting guru Chip Engelland. Management believes a sixth-man role will allow Williams to attack second units, bumping his usage while limiting foul trouble. SUMMER LEAGUE SETBACK CREATES URGENCY Before the illness, Williams posted a 14-point, 6-rebound line in Utah’s opening Summer League win yet struggled with efficiency in the two contests that followed, shooting just 33 percent from the field — a dip scouts attribute to experimenting with a higher release point. The abbreviated stint has amplified fan debate on social media, pushing “Cody Williams” into the top tier of real-time search trends as Jazz Nation hunts for health updates and breakout indicators. KEY NUMBERS TO WATCH • Catch-and-shoot threes: 29.7 percent last season — Utah wants 35 percent+. • Defensive RAPTOR: –0.8 as a rookie; coaching staff targeting positive value. • Free-throw rate: up from .162 in 2024-25 to .253 last year, a sign he’s learning to leverage his 6-foot-8 frame. WHAT COMES NEXT Williams is expected to be fully cleared for voluntary workouts by Sept. 5, giving him a three-week runway to solidify chemistry with projected starting point guard Collin Sexton. If the second-year leap materializes, analysts believe Williams could crack the closing lineup by Christmas and position himself for Most Improved Player buzz. SEARCH-FRIENDLY TAKEAWAY Fans googling “Is Cody Williams playing tonight?”, “Cody Williams injury update” and “Cody Williams fantasy outlook” should bookmark October 22, the Jazz’s season opener against the Sacramento Kings. Early-season minutes, three-point volume and on-ball defensive assignments will reveal whether the former five-star recruit is ready to justify the hype — and the clicks he’s commanding across the web.