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The Utah Jazz have been one of the more mediocre teams over the last few seasons after they decided to move away from their two-star players. The organization traded away guard Donovan Mitchell and center Rudy Gobert as they entered into a complete rebuild.
Things haven't gone too smoothly, but Utah does have a few quality pieces that they can build around on the roster. One of those is center Walker Kessler, who emerged in his rookie season as a presence in the paint for the Jazz.
However, despite his success, it seems that Kessler may not be part of the Jazz's long-term plans. NBA insider Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report reports that Kessler was discussed in trade talks earlier this offseason, and he may not be long for Utah.
"Per multiple sources, Utah has discussed Kessler previously in trade, including a stalled conversation with the New York Knicks. He doesn't seem part of the team's long-term plan, and the Jazz get a replacement in Sharpe from the Nets."
Kessler posted 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game in his rookie season. He also shot 33.3 percent from beyond the 3-point one, a decent percentage for a big man like Kessler.
However, in his sophomore season, the former Auburn Tiger regressed a bit. He averaged 8.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists, but his 3-point percentage dropped to just 21.1 percent.
One of Kessler's biggest advantages to the Jazz is his defensive ability. He has averaged 2.3 and 2.4 blocks per game in each of his first two seasons.
He is a big presence down low, and opposing teams tend to have a challenge scoring against him. Kessler is still only 23 years old, so it's a little odd that the Jazz want to give up on him so easily.
However, Utah general manager Danny Ainge has been known for being stubborn when it comes to team management over the years. He likely sees an opportunity to net strong assets for the young center and seems to be gauging the trade market for him.
Kessler holds a club option for $2.9 million this coming season and is scheduled for another club option of $4.8 million next season. He then would hit restricted free agency, something the Jazz may want to avoid if he isn't in their future plans.
It remains to be seen if Kessler will be dealt, but his time in Utah may be coming to an end sooner than most expected.
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About the writer
Matt Levine works as a contributing writer for Newsweek based in California. His expertise is in covering the NBA but ... Read more