Wizards ready to make big offer for Walker Kessler, but Jazz ‘optimistic’
While Utah Jazz turned down trade offers for Walker Kesslerwill Washington Wizards jump in with a deal ahead of schedule? Despite the fact that Kessler is out for the season with a shoulder injury, many believe the Jazz will bring him back via free agency in the offseason.
However, there is talk about the league that the Wizards will try to work out a deal with the Jazz for Kessler, according to Sports Illustrated’s Bryson Eakins.
“They (the Jazz) are optimistic Walker Kessler will return to Utah, and they have the final say because of his restricted free agency … word around the league is that the Wizards want to make him a significant offer,” Akins reported.
The Wizards, who recently acquired Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks, could be looking to pair the All-Star guard with the promising 7-foot center. Kessler averaged double-doubles in the last two of his four seasons with the Jazz, including 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals per game in just five games in 2025-26 before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
Walker is expected to see a significant pay raise. The fourth and final season of his rookie contract is worth $4.8 million.
Jazz reportedly turned down trade offers for Walker Kessler
The Jazz hope to re-sign Walker Kessler during the offseason when the center will be a restricted free agent. However, that didn’t stop the Pacers from trying, as they did made offers recently, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
“Kesler will be a restricted free agent this summer, and the Jazz continue to signal they hope to re-sign him after first using their projected salary cap in the offseason … despite the fact that the parties’ negotiations to extend rookie contracts before the Oct. 20 deadline for such contracts are marked by a significant gap.”
“Still, repeated signals coming out of Salt Lake City that Utah wants to keep Kessler haven’t stopped Indiana from expressing trade interest in the promising big man,” Stein reports.
The Pacers lost their former starting center, Myles Turner, in free agency to the Bucks last summer.
2026-01-25 21:58:00
