Walker Kessler Rumors

Numerous contacts with rival teams have suggested to me that the Pacers traded away too much for Zubac and could have waited until the summer to see what other options would have presented themselves, but I continue to hear that Utah is determined to retain restricted free agent-to-be Walker Kessler. The Pacers have long coveted Kessler, sources say, but I would counter the skeptics and say that there is tangible wisdom to Indiana getting its frontcourt business done now if its other preferred target is not likely to be available.

marcstein.substack.com

Ira Winderman: No Kevin Love tonight for Jazz in his return to Miami, now listed as out for rest. Also out for Jazz are Walker Kessler (shoulder) and Keyonte George (ankle). Heat injury report later.

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Chris Haynes: Sources: Indiana Pacers made a run at Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler and offered a package highlighted by two unprotected first-round picks. It was declined and Pacers pivoted to Zubac. Kessler will be in demand as a restricted free agent this summer.

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‪Yossi Gozlan‬: Utah trading for Jaren Jackson Jr. eliminates their 2026 cap space, assuming they re-sign Walker Kessler. There isn't an attainable free agent better than Jackson Jr. this summer, so the Jazz use up their cap flexibility in a big move now.

bsky.app

Tony Jones: League sources: Utah’s move for Jaren Jackson Jr will not affect the Jazz’ interest in keeping Walker Kessler long term. The Jazz are doing this envisioning JJJ/Lauri/Kessler frontcourt

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Shams Charania: The Jazz make a major swing for Jackson and team him with Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, Walker Kessler and more. The move signals a full rebuild for the Grizzlies around its promising young core and now as many future first-round picks as any team in the NBA.

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Bryson Atkins: Per @BannedMacMahon on ESPN 700: “They (Jazz) are optimistic Walker Kessler will be back in Utah, and they have final say due to his restricted free agency…the word around the league is the Wizards are fairing to make him a significant offer.”

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With that in mind, the Pacers gauged the price tag on various centers leaguewide this season, including Utah’s Walker Kessler, Los Angeles’ Ivica Zubac, Brooklyn’s Nicolas Claxton, Dallas’ Daniel Gafford, New Orleans’ Yves Missi, and others, league sources told HoopsHype.

HoopsHype

Yet the repeated signals emanating from Salt Lake City indicate that Utah wants to keep Kessler have not stopped Indiana from expressing trade interest in the promising big man. Kessler and Dallas' Daniel Gafford are two bigs that the Pacers have tried to engage on in recent weeks with an eye toward landing a quality center before Tyrese Haliburton's projected return from an Achilles tear when next season commences.

journal-topics.com

Scotto: "To my understanding, Utah wants to build around Lauri Markkanen. What they want to do, ideally, they have a ton of cap space this summer. Use it to make the roster better. If they're going to be in the lottery this year, they hope that's the last time for the foreseeable future where they can start to build this thing. Re-sign Walker Kessler, but wait until you use the cap space. Lauri draws a ton of interest around the league, but right now, Utah wants to hold onto him."

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In contract discussions with the Jazz, Kessler sought upwards of $120 million in total compensation for a long-term contract extension, sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com, but Utah was unwilling to commit to that price range. “There was a clear gap in talks between Kessler and Utah,” one source said.

Dallas Hoops Journal

First, know that Kessler’s shoulder has been an ongoing issue for him. “I’ve had a posterior labrum tear on my left shoulder since Auburn. I think the Tennessee game, I tore it and just kind of tried to play through and strengthen it,” Kessler said. “The doctor explained it ... there’s no amount of strength that’ll keep it from slipping out again and again. So he told me, ‘You got to have the surgery.’”

Salt Lake Tribune

According to Ben Anderson of KSL, the Indiana Pacers have interest in Walker Kessler. On the most recent episode of the Jazz Notes podcast, he talked about what he’s heard about the Utah Jazz center. From Anderson “I’ve heard the Indiana Pacers have inquired about Walker Kessler for a long time …. a lot. That’s going back to the summer, they’ve lost Myles Turner… before the injury and even after the injury… This is no one with the Jazz but other people who have similar jobs to me have heard similar things.”

SLC Dunk

Chris Haynes: BREAKING: Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler will undergo season-ending left shoulder surgery, league sources tell me.

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