Tony Jones of The Athletic reported last week that the Jazz and fourth-year center Walker Kessler are not expected to reach an agreement on a rookie scale contract extension before the regular season begins, despite having “multiple meetings”over the summer.
According to Jones, part of the reason a deal hasn’t been reached is because the Jazz are trying to maximize their salary cap flexibility next summer. As a restricted free agent in 2026, Kessler would have a cap hold of just $14.9MM — a potential extension would likely feature a much more lucrative starting salary and would replace that cap hold.
Kessler admitted at Monday’s media day that extension talks haven’t been going the way he’d hoped, writes Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune.
“I don’t want to talk about it after today, just because I think during the season … I don’t want it to be a distractor for me or for my teammates,” Kessler said.
“But that being said, I’m definitely a little frustrated with how,” he continued, trailing off before finishing, “… if I don’t (receive an extension).”
Kessler declined to answer when asked if Utah had told him it wouldn’t offer him an extension, Larsen adds. Jones reported that the Jazz did offer the 24-year-old an extension and value him highly, but the two sides weren’t close to an agreement.
According to Larsen, Kessler and his camp are looking for a long-term contract “approaching or perhaps even eclipsing” nine figures.
“I don’t want to negotiate publicly, but we’re big fans of Walker,” president of basketball operations Austin Ainge said, per Larsen. “We’ve talked with him and his people this summer and hope to have him around long term, whether that’s an agreement now or later.”
Despite the uncertain contract situation, Kessler said he loves being in Utah and playing for the Jazz, Larsen adds. The former Auburn and North Carolina big man will earn $4.88MM in 2025/26, which is the final season of his rookie scale deal.
Kessler is EXACTLY who the Warriors need…Kuminga for Kessler?
More Rookie scale extension drama.
Kessler is getting a decent contract next season one way or another. Starting caliber bigs are somewhat scarce these days.
9 digits for Kessler is crazy talk.
Have you seen him play?
He’s a good, not great, player on a terrible, not bad, team.
Slow, cannot shoot (AT ALL!), strong and able to finish in traffic, cannot create his own shot, ok hands, good rebounder.
He’s not a game changing defensive player who drops the shooting % of opposing teams and forces them outside (ala Gobert) he’s a strong get the rebound and block some shots of people who challenge him sort of a center.
NOT the guy you build the team around (not that there is any indication the Jazz are trying to build a team, but with the salary cap rules in the NBA, the Jazz might find an opportunity to snipe some players b/c of having cap space…which cap space they’d loose if they went big on Kessler).
Kessler and Hendricks for Clingan and Reath.
Win win
draft Boozer, trade Lauri if needed to get Boozer. Done. Perfect rebuild Danny. Finished rebuild. Then compete next year
@cyruszao, I respect this take because it’s clear you know the Jazz well. He’s a very limited big and he’s just a bit too old for this early rebuilding roster.
Still there have to be a few teams that would really value a true defensive big in this era of Wemby, Jokic, Zubac, etc.
Could you see a 4 year, $68M deal rookie extension?
What would you offer him?