SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – DECEMBER 28: Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy speaks to Walker Kessler #24 … [+]
Although the Utah Jazz will be one of the top sellers to monitor ahead of the 2025 NBA trade deadline, starting center Walker Kessler will not be leaving anytime soon.
Utah is not shopping Kessler and view him as a young foundational piece to their core alongside Lauri Markkanen, a league source familiar with the situation recently told me.
Kessler is producing a career-best season averaging 10.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 1.7 assists on an elite 70.7 true shooting percentage. Figuring it out on both ends of the court as a dominant rim protector and ultra-efficient post presence, Kessler’s ceiling could become an All-Star down the road.
Kessler has huge fans within the Jazz’s organization, including head coach Will Hardy who has developed a strong bond with him.
Although many opposing teams fanbases clamor on a daily basis for the 23-year-old center to leave Utah by February 6th, but it’s not going to happen. Utah received plenty of calls on Kessler, as the market around bigs has been robust league-wide, but they’ve been shut down in quick succession.
The Jazz are open to shopping three players who will garner a strong market ahead of the deadline: John Collins, Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson. Already with a ton of future draft capital, Utah will be prioritizing young prospects over picks in any moves made within the next month.
Next season, Utah is hopeful they have a foundational building block atop the 2025 NBA Draft joining their core headlined by Markkanen and Kessler.
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