Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler is upset with how the organization is handling preliminary talks ahead of his restricted free agency, according to a report by Sam Amick of The Athletic.
League sources told Amick the Jazz are emphasizing their right of first refusal in an effort to suppress the 24-year-old’s market value. The stance has led Kessler—already displeased with stalled rookie-scale extension talks last offseason—to weigh the possibility of eventually leaving Utah, the sources added.
Utah can keep the 7’2” big man restricted by issuing a $7.1 million qualifying offer, effectively a one-year deal that includes an implied no-trade clause. If Kessler accepts the offer, he would become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. Other options include negotiating a new contract with the Jazz, signing an offer sheet elsewhere that Utah could match, or facilitating a sign-and-trade.
Despite appearing in only five games in 2025-26 before a shoulder injury required surgery, Kessler remains highly sought after around the league. The Lakers, Hawks, Wizards, Raptors and Knicks have all explored trade scenarios in the past, Amick reported. The Indiana Pacers also pursued Kessler before the February trade deadline, eventually pivoting to Ivica Zubac; the substantial package Indiana sent the Clippers for Zubac underscores the center’s perceived market value, according to the report.
Kessler has long signaled interest in staying with the Jazz, but the ongoing negotiations have left him “extremely disappointed,” sources told The Athletic. While retaining the former first-round pick is still believed to be a priority for Utah, the club appears intent on securing him at the lowest possible price.
Source: Hoops Rumors
