Walker Kessler, Jazz end extension talks, making him a restricted free agent in 2026

[Wolveswin]

Take off the homer glasses and you will see. Kessler is a young, capable starting center who is an elite rebounder and shot blocker. Rob Dillingham hasn’t proven he’s an NBA rotation player, yet.

Nobody is giving Walker Kessler a rookie max contract, so him getting paid after this season isn’t a major hit to his value.

Also, the Jazz have Isaiah Collier, Keyonte George and Walter Clayton Jr. Dillingham just adds to their glut of young guards.

Take off the homer glasses and you will see. Kessler is a young, capable starting center who is an elite rebounder and shot blocker. Rob Dillingham hasn’t proven he’s an NBA rotation player, yet.

Nobody is giving Walker Kessler a rookie max contract, so him getting paid after this season isn’t a major hit to his value.

Also, the Jazz have Isaiah Collier, Keyonte George and Walter Clayton Jr. Dillingham just adds to their glut of young guards.

Kessler has played on a terrible team his whole career. Consuming his empty calorie stats and making them your source of a healthy value proposition is a very unhealthy opinion.

Then you double down and use the fact a rookie production should be fully baked - a rookie on a stacked successful team. Ask yourself if Dilly was starting PG for bad Jazz team in Utah - what his empty stats would reflect.

And if you need to resort to name calling - find a new hobby. This isn’t for you.

I didn’t call you a name. If being called a homer is name calling, you need thicker skin. Also, you are the one telling everyone in this thread to find a new hobby when they disagree with you.

Where did I say Walker Kessler was a perfect player? He has limitations as a rim-running big with poor shooting touch who rebounds and blocks shots well. His rebounding and shot blocking skills were evident at Auburn, and they have translated to the NBA. His production in those areas has little to do with playing for a bad team.

As for Dillingham, he was more scorer than point guard coming out of Kentucky (like his backcourt mate in college Reed Sheppard). The Timberwolves desperately needed more from their point guard position last year as Mike Conley struggled to make shots, and Dillingham was not able to earn significant minutes despite Conley’s struggles.

Dillingham could absolutely become a good player in time, but I don’t think saying Walker Kessler has shown far more as an NBA player and would be valued higher than him today is a big reach.

Don’t do that - you know I am saying “get a new hobby” because of your name calling. Not because you differ in opinion. Don’t straw man.

Wolves don’t need a true PG. He wasn’t batting Conley for minutes and touches. He is trying to find his fit with Edwards and on a team with a ton of scoring already. His ideal role is off the bench on a stacked Wolves team.

[Broadcaster]

On the topic, I do think I read somewhere there was friction between Walker’s camp and the organization/coaching staff. I think Walker wanted to develop in certain ways (perimeter shooting) that the organization/coaching staff didn’t agree with. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong. Will Hardy has definitely played yo-yo with his minutes over his first few seasons in ways that I would’ve found less than respectful if I was Walker. I do think he’s an incredibly elite shot blocker and rebounder and I feel he has far more potential than we give him credit for.

[SkyHook]

To Hawks: Gobert/DDV
=More D at rim, more shooting, and NAW can backfill Daniels.

To Jazz: Dilly

To Wolves: Porzingis/Kessler/Daniels
=Really balances Wolves lineup. Kessler is insurance for Porzingis health concerns and battle Beringer as COF in MN.
Porzingis/Kessler/Beringer
Randle/Reid
McDaniels/Edwards
Edwards/TSJ/Daniels
Daniels/Conley/Bones

Unsurprisingly, you have provided no rationale for the Jazz to do this, simply because there isn't one.

Do really think Kessler has more value than Dillingham? If anything, Jazz are adding some value.

Kessler is on last year about to be paid. Dilly was the 8th overall pick. Which means his value is in potential.

Kessler clearly has more value than Dillingham. Best offensive rebounder in the league, one of the best shot blockers, ridiculously efficient from the floor (when the Jazz aren't experimenting with his three point shot). Dillingham has done what exactly? He had a marginally worse rookie season than Cody Williams who was drafted three spots ahead of him and was last season's most disappointing rookie. Draft position means nothing a year later.

Your proposal is ridiculously bad.

[davidv2001]

Kessler has played on a terrible team his whole career. Consuming his empty calorie stats and making them your source of a healthy value proposition is a very unhealthy opinion.

Then you double down and use the fact a rookie production should be fully baked - a rookie on a stacked successful team. Ask yourself if Dilly was starting PG for bad Jazz team in Utah - what his empty stats would reflect.

And if you need to resort to name calling - find a new hobby. This isn’t for you.

I didn’t call you a name. If being called a homer is name calling, you need thicker skin. Also, you are the one telling everyone in this thread to find a new hobby when they disagree with you.

Where did I say Walker Kessler was a perfect player? He has limitations as a rim-running big with poor shooting touch who rebounds and blocks shots well. His rebounding and shot blocking skills were evident at Auburn, and they have translated to the NBA. His production in those areas has little to do with playing for a bad team.

As for Dillingham, he was more scorer than point guard coming out of Kentucky (like his backcourt mate in college Reed Sheppard). The Timberwolves desperately needed more from their point guard position last year as Mike Conley struggled to make shots, and Dillingham was not able to earn significant minutes despite Conley’s struggles.

Dillingham could absolutely become a good player in time, but I don’t think saying Walker Kessler has shown far more as an NBA player and would be valued higher than him today is a big reach.

Don’t do that - you know I am saying “get a new hobby” because of your name calling. Not because you differ in opinion. Don’t straw man.

Wolves don’t need a true PG. He wasn’t batting Conley for minutes and touches. He is trying to find his fit with Edwards and on a team with a ton of scoring already. His ideal role is off the bench on a stacked Wolves team.

Calling someone a homer isn’t name calling.

Rob Dillingham’s calling card coming to the NBA was his ability as a microwave scorer who could get buckets despite being undersized for such a role. At his size, his only fit in the Wolves’ starting lineup is playing next to Edwards as an undersized scorer with some playmaking skills.

Even in a bench role, he has to play next to a bigger guard that also can facilitate well for others because of his small stature.

Keyonte George had this similar archetype coming from Baylor. He was a scorer that the Jazz have been trying to teach how to play point guard. He just has not figured out how to efficiently score, and his point guard skills aren’t good enough to make up for it along with his defensive limitations.

[Wolveswin]

Unsurprisingly, you have provided no rationale for the Jazz to do this, simply because there isn't one.

Do really think Kessler has more value than Dillingham? If anything, Jazz are adding some value.

Kessler is on last year about to be paid. Dilly was the 8th overall pick. Which means his value is in potential.

Kessler clearly has more value than Dillingham. Best offensive rebounder in the league, one of the best shot blockers, ridiculously efficient from the floor (when the Jazz aren't experimenting with his three point shot). Dillingham has done what exactly? He had a marginally worse rookie season than Cody Williams who was drafted three spots ahead of him and was last season's most disappointing rookie. Draft position means nothing a year later.

Your proposal is ridiculously bad.

Cutting and pasting for you.

Kessler has played on a terrible team his whole career. Consuming his empty calorie stats and making them your source of a healthy value proposition is a very unhealthy opinion.

Then you double down and use the fact a rookie production should be fully baked - a rookie on a stacked successful team. Ask yourself if Dilly was starting PG for bad Jazz team in Utah - what his empty stats would reflect.

Draft position does mean something a year later. More so for us here on RGM vs that in real world. It informs us here that real life professional GMs value the potential of a player to a _____ degree - in Dilly’s case - to be a top 8 pick. A player like Dilly has value because of said potential. He doesn’t have the luxury of putting up empty stats on a bad team - you know - the easiest path for a developing player to shine bright. Much harder is trying to develop on a stacked winning team and struggling to find ones place.

[Wolveswin]

I didn’t call you a name. If being called a homer is name calling, you need thicker skin. Also, you are the one telling everyone in this thread to find a new hobby when they disagree with you.

Where did I say Walker Kessler was a perfect player? He has limitations as a rim-running big with poor shooting touch who rebounds and blocks shots well. His rebounding and shot blocking skills were evident at Auburn, and they have translated to the NBA. His production in those areas has little to do with playing for a bad team.

As for Dillingham, he was more scorer than point guard coming out of Kentucky (like his backcourt mate in college Reed Sheppard). The Timberwolves desperately needed more from their point guard position last year as Mike Conley struggled to make shots, and Dillingham was not able to earn significant minutes despite Conley’s struggles.

Dillingham could absolutely become a good player in time, but I don’t think saying Walker Kessler has shown far more as an NBA player and would be valued higher than him today is a big reach.

Don’t do that - you know I am saying “get a new hobby” because of your name calling. Not because you differ in opinion. Don’t straw man.

Wolves don’t need a true PG. He wasn’t batting Conley for minutes and touches. He is trying to find his fit with Edwards and on a team with a ton of scoring already. His ideal role is off the bench on a stacked Wolves team.

Calling someone a homer isn’t name calling.

Rob Dillingham’s calling card coming to the NBA was his ability as a microwave scorer who could get buckets despite being undersized for such a role. At his size, his only fit in the Wolves’ starting lineup is playing next to Edwards as an undersized scorer with some playmaking skills.

Even in a bench role, he has to play next to a bigger guard that also can facilitate well for others because of his small stature.

Keyonte George had this similar archetype coming from Baylor. He was a scorer that the Jazz have been trying to teach how to play point guard. He just has not figured out how to efficiently score, and his point guard skills aren’t good enough to make up for it along with his defensive limitations.

Dilly may end up starting for Wolves - because Conley is so old. But his ideal role is off the bench. Microwave scoring as you state. Wolves have a ton of scoring in starting lineup.

On a bad team, he would earn the chance to start and prove he is a complete PG - a chance he won’t get on Wolves next to Edwards.

[Wolveswin]

Why would I need proof? You’re clearly just delusional. There’s no sense talking to anyone who takes your idea seriously.

I think you should find a different hobby.

Gobert on his own isn’t even worth Dyson. Walker is also one of the top shot blockers in the league. By the metrics he’s an incredibly high level shot blocker. He’s also a very strong rebounder and he’s very young. You just want the Wolves to be better but don’t want to give up any kind of comparable value. An aging Gobert, unproven young player and DDV for one of the best young perimeter defenders ever, one of the best young blockers/rebounders in the league and Kristaps? You’re fooling yourself to even think that you wouldn’t be laughed off the phone.

Wait you think Daniels has more value than Gobert and DDV?

And before you answer that, realize Porzingis has like no value. He was traded for Niang and 2nd round swaps. And Niang needed 2x 2nds attached to him to move. Which means Porzingis is worth not much.

[SlimShady83]

Don't worry all, Kessler will be a Laker in due time . But in saying that as long as it's not; Bos/Den/Clippers, I will be happy

[Broadcaster]

Do really think Kessler has more value than Dillingham? If anything, Jazz are adding some value.

Kessler is on last year about to be paid. Dilly was the 8th overall pick. Which means his value is in potential.

Kessler clearly has more value than Dillingham. Best offensive rebounder in the league, one of the best shot blockers, ridiculously efficient from the floor (when the Jazz aren't experimenting with his three point shot). Dillingham has done what exactly? He had a marginally worse rookie season than Cody Williams who was drafted three spots ahead of him and was last season's most disappointing rookie. Draft position means nothing a year later.

Your proposal is ridiculously bad.

Cutting and pasting for you.

Kessler has played on a terrible team his whole career. Consuming his empty calorie stats and making them your source of a healthy value proposition is a very unhealthy opinion.

Then you double down and use the fact a rookie production should be fully baked - a rookie on a stacked successful team. Ask yourself if Dilly was starting PG for bad Jazz team in Utah - what his empty stats would reflect.

Draft position does mean something a year later. More so for us here on RGM vs that in real world. It informs us here that real life professional GMs value the potential of a player to a _____ degree - in Dilly’s case - to be a top 8 pick. A player like Dilly has value because of said potential. He doesn’t have the luxury of putting up empty stats on a bad team - you know - the easiest path for a developing player to shine bright. Much harder is trying to develop on a stacked winning team and struggling to find ones place.

He made good points and you avoided them by cutting and pasting. Kessler has far, far more value than Dillingham.

[Broadcaster]

I think you should find a different hobby.

Gobert on his own isn’t even worth Dyson. Walker is also one of the top shot blockers in the league. By the metrics he’s an incredibly high level shot blocker. He’s also a very strong rebounder and he’s very young. You just want the Wolves to be better but don’t want to give up any kind of comparable value. An aging Gobert, unproven young player and DDV for one of the best young perimeter defenders ever, one of the best young blockers/rebounders in the league and Kristaps? You’re fooling yourself to even think that you wouldn’t be laughed off the phone.

Wait you think Daniels has more value than Gobert and DDV?

And before you answer that, realize Porzingis has like no value. He was traded for Niang and 2nd round swaps. And Niang needed 2x 2nds attached to him to move. Which means Porzingis is worth not much.

Yes. Dyson and Walker are the most valuable pieces from the trade and you get both for an aging Gobert and your trash. Of course you like the trade. Maybe take a moment to see why no one else would.

[KingFox]

There are billions of stars in the universe, Walker Kessler is one of them.

Yea I see him as a Zubac type player. Good to have... I don't know if I see star with his skillset.

But i've been wrong before!

Prior to a year ago I'd see that as underrating Kessler, but now I see it as underrating Zubac, who absolutely should have been an all-star last year over all other Clippers.

[Wolveswin]

Gobert on his own isn’t even worth Dyson. Walker is also one of the top shot blockers in the league. By the metrics he’s an incredibly high level shot blocker. He’s also a very strong rebounder and he’s very young. You just want the Wolves to be better but don’t want to give up any kind of comparable value. An aging Gobert, unproven young player and DDV for one of the best young perimeter defenders ever, one of the best young blockers/rebounders in the league and Kristaps? You’re fooling yourself to even think that you wouldn’t be laughed off the phone.

Wait you think Daniels has more value than Gobert and DDV?

And before you answer that, realize Porzingis has like no value. He was traded for Niang and 2nd round swaps. And Niang needed 2x 2nds attached to him to move. Which means Porzingis is worth not much.

Yes. Dyson and Walker are the most valuable pieces from the trade and you get both for an aging Gobert and your trash. Of course you like the trade. Maybe take a moment to see why no one else would.

You didn’t answer my question. Which directly didn’t have anything about Kessler.

[Pattycakes]

Just excited for Clingan to make him his beezy again

[Broadcaster]

Wait you think Daniels has more value than Gobert and DDV?

And before you answer that, realize Porzingis has like no value. He was traded for Niang and 2nd round swaps. And Niang needed 2x 2nds attached to him to move. Which means Porzingis is worth not much.

Yes. Dyson and Walker are the most valuable pieces from the trade and you get both for an aging Gobert and your trash. Of course you like the trade. Maybe take a moment to see why no one else would.

You didn’t answer my question. Which directly didn’t have anything about Kessler.

I did answer it. Dyson is more valuable than Gobert. You fully ignore all my points. You’ve actually yet to address a single point I’ve made.

[Wolveswin]

Yes. Dyson and Walker are the most valuable pieces from the trade and you get both for an aging Gobert and your trash. Of course you like the trade. Maybe take a moment to see why no one else would.

You didn’t answer my question. Which directly didn’t have anything about Kessler.

I did answer it. Dyson is more valuable than Gobert. You fully ignore all my points. You’ve actually yet to address a single point I’ve made.

That wasn’t my question. Is Daniels have more value than Gobert AND DDV?

[Broadcaster]

You didn’t answer my question. Which directly didn’t have anything about Kessler.

I did answer it. Dyson is more valuable than Gobert. You fully ignore all my points. You’ve actually yet to address a single point I’ve made.

That wasn’t my question. Is Daniels have more value than Gobert AND DDV?

I’d still say yes. Now try responding to me.

[Wolveswin]

I did answer it. Dyson is more valuable than Gobert. You fully ignore all my points. You’ve actually yet to address a single point I’ve made.

That wasn’t my question. Is Daniels have more value than Gobert AND DDV?

I’d still say yes. Now try responding to me.

No way is Daniels worth more than Gobert and DDV.

What is your questions?

[babyjax13]

That wasn’t my question. Is Daniels have more value than Gobert AND DDV?

I’d still say yes. Now try responding to me.

No way is Daniels worth more than Gobert and DDV.

What is your questions?

I think he is more valuable than both in a trade. Maybe not on court at this moment (Gobert is still really good, DDV is a nice rotation player who can start), but he is really good and improving, and he is defensively unique just as Rudy is.

[Wolveswin]

I’d still say yes. Now try responding to me.

No way is Daniels worth more than Gobert and DDV.

What is your questions?

I think he is more valuable than both in a trade. Maybe not on court at this moment (Gobert is still really good, DDV is a nice rotation player who can start), but he is really good and improving, and he is defensively unique just as Rudy is.

Well for perspective - Gobert in our very own GB top 25 vote was elected in the top 26-35 players in NBA. No way does a top 35 player plus DDV not equal Daniels (who didn’t make the list - neither did Porzingis).

Before you jump in with a ‘who care about that list’ that list should serve for what it is. A source of personal reflection of one’s own value assessment in reflection of what the masses here believe. Not the Bible but a great North Star.

[Daddy 801]

Well I see the Jazz logo by your name and I respect your inside knowledge.

Can you explain to me why Kessler lost his starting spot after his rookie campaign? On a normal team we'd expect this was because the team was trying to win, but a) the Jazz haven't tried to win since Ainge got there, and b) Kessler's had a positive On-Off for the Jazz the entire time he's been there.

So what explanation is there that we'd expect would make Kessler and his agent feel like developing him was their priority?

As a different Jazz fan.

Your initial take is overblowing it imo, but I do think there's something there with Hardy seemingly wanting an offensively skilled big. I couldn't say Kessler has been prioritized among the Jazz young guys (Keyonte), despite being quite clearly the best young player to date. Certainly a bit worried about playing hardball with RFAs after Hayward clearly weighing it when he left (could Utah have been a real contender with Mitchell/Hayward/Gobert?).

But I'm less worried about it now than I was going into last season. Last season in particular Kessler got pretty good minutes when he suited up, and hopefully the FO is being clear with him whatever the plan is.

Overall, this rebuild has stunk.

I always appreciate your insight eminence, and especially on your team, and so I apologize for my pessimism.

I have to say though, if I'm Kessler, none of what you say would make me want to stay, and I'd say the same is true at this point toward everyone on the roster. Doing an extended tank will naturally do this to you, because the whole roster knows that your real priority is a player who isn't on the roster yet.

Doesn't mean it's not worth it if the ping pong ball bounces right, but you have to know you're killing the relationships with your actual players when you do this stuff.

The Jazz may be able to use RFA to re-sign Kessler, but going forward, I'd have zero loyalty to a team that had allowed me to become the talk of the league in my rookie year, only to tank harder the next two and seem to prioritize others over me.

Meanwhile the guy they ended up getting in the tank, Ace Bailey, probably isn't going to want to stay there long term no matter what happens.

I'm someone who said Ainge deserved EOY for the year in which he acquired Lauri & drafted Kessler while getting a ton of draft picks, but at this point, my guess is that the next time the Jazz are a contender, it won't have any of their '25-26 core on the roster.

It's crazy to me that someone can start out making such good moves, but then with the same mentality, ruin it within the span of two years.

I think restricted free agency is going to be so common with the new CBA that players feeling disrespected isn’t going to be as prominent as it once was. The CBA is forcing GM’s to all have to play hardball with the salary cap and the players aren’t stupid. Walker may want to get paid now but I’m sure he is fully aware that to build a competitive team the GM has to use available cap space to acquire other players. I guess it’s a risk the Jazz have in not resigning him now, but it’s the same problem all teams are now facing. And now that all teams are facing that situation it’s not going to be seen as such a slap in the face. Plus Walker being upset still means the Jazz are going to have him for years to come when he signs the next contract and who knows where the Jazz will be as a team once his next contract is coming up for an extension. Ideally they are a good team in 4-5 years and resigning is a no brainer. Or Walker is playing great and the Jazz move him in 2-4 years before his contract expires. Either way the Jazz will have control of Walker for years to come.

If Walker wasn’t a RFA I would be worried about this situation. I’m just not worried at the moment. We’re years and years away from it even potentially becoming an issue IMO.

Maybe I’m just being optimistic but I think I’m just being realistic.