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

[QPR]

I think it makes perfect sense for Utah to let the market dictate the worth of a player with his skillset.

[Zeno]

I think he’s guaranteed to get 25 million plus offer sheet from someone and not doing this now might make it 30 million per but committing to that now is not worth the downside risk, 10 million in capspace(difference in the caphold and a deal starting at 25 million) and the ability to keep him trade eligible if someone makes a stupid trade offer. Makes sense for the Jazz to wait unless he was willing to sign for 20 million per which I am betting he wasn’t.

[whatisacenter]

All RFA team:

Kessler
Kuminga
Grimes
Thomas
Giddy (before his signed)

How good/bad would that team be?

[MagicMamba88]

Read on Twitter

[SlimShady83]

I'd be ok with this and I like AR. But 2 FRPs? If Reaves is in the deal, only 1 FRP

Read on Twitter

[-Luke-]

A star?

They use this term a bit excessively in Utah.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/UTS/

[Daddy 801]

I mean he's going to be a RFA.

Were I Kessler, unless things turn around right quick, I'd be trying to get the hell away from Ainge at this point. His development was essentially put on hold for years so the Jazz keep losing their shirt on the lottery slot machine, and now they're playing hardball on his salary. I'd be pissed.

Mind you, I'm not saying I'd feel confident giving Kessler a max myself, but the Jazz should expect that basically all the players they have right now resent the organization.

This is a pretty horrible take. Nothing about the Jazz rebuilding has stifled Kessler. He has been given all the playing time he can handle. Had he gone to a contender he wouldn’t have gotten as much time.

[Daddy 801]

I'd be ok with this and I like AR. But 2 FRPs? If Reaves is in the deal, only 1 FRP

Read on Twitter

You can keep Reaves. Pass on that deal. Hell, I’m not even all that interested in two picks from the Lakers as long as they have Luka.

[SlimShady83]

I'd be ok with this and I like AR. But 2 FRPs? If Reaves is in the deal, only 1 FRP

You can keep Reaves. Pass on that deal. Hell, I’m not even all that interested in two picks from the Lakers as long as they have Luka.

LOL this coming from your side though, we'll see how it all unfolds in due time

[Diop]

Just letting the market set his value then Jazz will likely match

[Doctor MJ]

I mean he's going to be a RFA.

Were I Kessler, unless things turn around right quick, I'd be trying to get the hell away from Ainge at this point. His development was essentially put on hold for years so the Jazz keep losing their shirt on the lottery slot machine, and now they're playing hardball on his salary. I'd be pissed.

Mind you, I'm not saying I'd feel confident giving Kessler a max myself, but the Jazz should expect that basically all the players they have right now resent the organization.

This is a pretty horrible take. Nothing about the Jazz rebuilding has stifled Kessler. He has been given all the playing time he can handle. Had he gone to a contender he wouldn’t have gotten as much time.

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?

[Daddy 801]

I'd be ok with this and I like AR. But 2 FRPs? If Reaves is in the deal, only 1 FRP

You can keep Reaves. Pass on that deal. Hell, I’m not even all that interested in two picks from the Lakers as long as they have Luka.

LOL this coming from your side though, we'll see how it all unfolds in due time

The Jazz aren’t going to tank forever. They don’t have the stomach for it. They will resign Kessler and try to use the cap space in the mean time. I’d be surprised to see Kessler or Lauri traded unless it gives them a really good pick this year. And then next offseason I see them adding pieces to their young core. From what I’ve heard the draft after this upcoming draft isn’t good so I don’t see the Jazz tanking again after this year. At least not tanking on purpose.

Personally I’d be fine with trading those guys if it meant more high upside picks, but I don’t run the company and have to answer to the profit and loss statements. And two picks from the Lakers which are likely to be late FRP’s aren’t all that appealing. I guess the 2031 pick is a potential high variable pick. But with the Lakers being the Lakers and getting players in free agency and having Luka those picks wouldn’t be all that exciting to me personally. And I don’t really have any desire for Reaves. Like most average players in large markets he gets hyped more than he should. If he was on then Jazz or Washington no one would be talking about him in trade rumors.

[eminence]

Were I Kessler, unless things turn around right quick, I'd be trying to get the hell away from Ainge at this point. His development was essentially put on hold for years so the Jazz keep losing their shirt on the lottery slot machine, and now they're playing hardball on his salary. I'd be pissed.

Mind you, I'm not saying I'd feel confident giving Kessler a max myself, but the Jazz should expect that basically all the players they have right now resent the organization.

This is a pretty horrible take. Nothing about the Jazz rebuilding has stifled Kessler. He has been given all the playing time he can handle. Had he gone to a contender he wouldn’t have gotten as much time.

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.

[Saul Goodman]

i feel like if Charlotte starts off in a playoff position they could send in a very compelling offer



2027 Dallas 1st
2027 Miami 1st


for

Walker Kessler

[Doctor MJ]

This is a pretty horrible take. Nothing about the Jazz rebuilding has stifled Kessler. He has been given all the playing time he can handle. Had he gone to a contender he wouldn’t have gotten as much time.

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.

[Doctor MJ]

i feel like if Charlotte starts off in a playoff position they could send in a very compelling offer



2027 Dallas 1st
2027 Miami 1st


for

Walker Kessler

That seems like an unlikely premise for a team that didn't win 20 games last year and hasn't made the playoffs in about a decade.

[eminence]

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.

Overall our pessimism levels seem about the same, just a bit more optimistic about Walker.

Agreed that the promising moves were the initial trades of the stars, really about as much value as one could expect. Since then, meh. Bad lotto luck, Hendricks injury have contributed. But it does feel like we're just waiting to get lucky, no real moves to get our guy, development isn't going particularly well. Just not a lot to be excited about.

[djsunyc]

damn, what happened? did he date a black girl or something? just jokes folks!

[Doctor MJ]

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.

Overall our pessimism levels seem about the same, just a bit more optimistic about Walker.

Agreed that the promising moves were the initial trades of the stars, really about as much value as one could expect. Since then, meh. Bad lotto luck, Hendricks injury have contributed. But it does feel like we're just waiting to get lucky, no real moves to get our guy, development isn't going particularly well. Just not a lot to be excited about.

I’m sorry eminence. Always happy when RealGm friends teams do well, and the Jazz have historically been really well run. Hopefully they right the ship going forward.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Catchall]

Jazz are just maintaining some flexibility. I don't think they're 100% committed to Walker, but it's most likely they sign him next summer.