The Utah Jazz have been one of the most mediocre teams in recent seasons after deciding to part ways with their two star players. The organization traded away point guard Donovan Mitchell and center Rudy Gobert as it embarked on a complete rebuild.
Things didn’t go as planned, but Utah has a few quality pieces to build on on its roster. One of them is center Walker Kessler, who was a big presence in the paint for the Jazz during his rookie season.
However, despite his success, it appears Kessler is not part of the Jazz’s long-term plans. NBA Bleacher Report insider Eric Pincus reports that Kessler was mentioned in trade talks earlier this offseason, and he may not stay in Utah for long.
“According to multiple sources, Utah has already discussed Kessler in a trade, including with the New York Knicks. He doesn’t appear to be part of the team’s long-term plan, and the Jazz are getting a replacement in Sharpe from the Nets.”
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Kessler averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game in his rookie season. He also shot 33.3 percent from three-point range, a decent percentage for a big man like Kessler.
However, in his sophomore season, the former Auburn Tigers player regressed a bit. He averaged 8.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 0.9 assists, but his three-point percentage dropped to just 21.1 percent.
One of Kessler’s biggest assets for the Jazz is his defensive ability. He averaged 2.3 and 2.4 blocks per game in each of his first two seasons.
He’s a big presence in the low defense and opposing teams tend to have a hard time scoring against him. Kessler is only 23, so it’s a little odd that the Jazz would give him up so easily.
However, Utah general manager Danny Ainge, who has been known for his stubbornness when it comes to team management for years, likely sees an opportunity to sign solid players for the young center and appears to be weighing the trade market for him.
Kessler holds a $2.9 million club option for the upcoming season and is set to have another $4.8 million club option next season. He would then become a restricted free agent, something the Jazz may want to avoid if he’s not part of their future plans.
It remains to be seen whether Kessler will be traded, but his time in Utah could end sooner than expected.
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