Haynes: Walker Kessler OUT for the Season with Labrum Tear

Castle Black · Post #1 » by **Castle Black** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 6:54 pm

Bummer. He was playing well to start the season. Hope he makes a full and speedy recovery.

Chuck Everett · Post #2 » by **Chuck Everett** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 6:54 pm

Surgery for a torn labrum. Damn, that's a pretty big blow. Contract year and he'll be restricted this summer. Jazz tank rolls on.

UcanUwill · Post #3 » by **UcanUwill** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 6:55 pm

Oh wow... That sucks for him. I just looked at their eDiff numbers the other day, and I think Kessler was just dominating among Jazz, he made that team so much better at least based on these numbers, I guess Ainge is happy now...

Wolveswin · Post #4 » by **Wolveswin** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 6:57 pm

Ouch. And without his next contract. That is going to be an expensive shoulder.

AleksandarN · Post #5 » by **AleksandarN** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 6:58 pm

That ends his career with the Jazz. Jazz were dumb not trading him last year

kiwinbafan05 · Post #6 » by **kiwinbafan05** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 6:59 pm

The Jazz missed the opportunity to trade him. Wishing for a speedy recovery!

davidv2001 · Post #7 » by **davidv2001** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 7:00 pm

AleksandarN wrote:That ends his career with the Jazz. Jazz were dumb not trading him last year

Unless he gets no decent offers from other teams, I would expect him to be in Utah next season. He’s a restricted free agent this summer, and the injury will drive his price down.

1993Playoffs · Post #8 » by **1993Playoffs** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 7:01 pm

KokoKaizer · Post #9 » by **KokoKaizer** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 7:03 pm

Time to trade for him SlimShady

taikibansei · Post #10 » by **taikibansei** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 7:04 pm

UcanUwill wrote:Oh wow... That sucks for him. I just looked at their eDiff numbers the other day, and I think Kessler was just dominating among Jazz, he made that team so much better at least based on these numbers, I guess Ainge is happy now...

Nah, I think Ainge is devastated by this news--he's going to have to halve his asks in a Kessler trade (to just three frps, just one expiring veteran, and just one promising young prospect) because of it. :wink:

LAvision · Post #11 » by **LAvision** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 7:04 pm

Post #12 » by **bisme37** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 7:05 pm

Hope he makes a fast and full recovery.

Also, Shams' "source" was this tweet from Chris Haynes lol, who reported it first.

Read on Twitter

SlimShady83 · Post #13 » by **SlimShady83** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 7:06 pm

Oh FFS and is contract year, what happens now?

Handlez · Post #14 » by **Handlez** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 7:07 pm

He was playing so well.

Effing sucks.

SlimShady83 · Post #15 » by **SlimShady83** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 7:08 pm

KokoKaizer wrote:Time to trade for him SlimShady

I hate injuries but might be there best bet

Knecht and ...?

MMyhre · Post #16 » by **MMyhre** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 7:11 pm

Who is the likely teams to trade for Markkanen? I remember OKC being in the mix back in the day..
Chet Markkanen J-Dub Dort SGA, who can stop that team?

dirkdiggler4177 · Post #17 » by **dirkdiggler4177** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 7:27 pm

What are the long term consequenses with this type of injury? Will be interesting to see how his contract get affected by this. For example if centers dominate the postseason he can suddenly be paid a lot because of potential.

chilluminati · Post #18 » by **chilluminati** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 7:29 pm

SlimShady83 wrote:Oh FFS and is contract year, what happens now?

Time to start thinking up some sign and trade scenarios to get him in LA. Utah will take this opportunity to send him to RFA to get the best deal for him. You aren't gonna have the cap to hit the offer sheet, but his deal is most likely going to be for less money after this. What a bad time for this to happen to him.

Dan Z · Post #19 » by **Dan Z** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 7:32 pm

What does this mean for Utah? I know they're not a contending team, but do they tank yet again?

Billl · Post #20 » by **Billl** » Wed Nov 5, 2025 7:45 pm

Sucks for Kessler and jazz fans. And I imagine this was the last straw for him in utah. I know he's a RFA and all, but he's going to be massive salty about how this process played out and I'm not sure that relationship is going to be repairable.