NBA Rumors: Knicks Eyed Jazz's Walker Kessler Before Trade Deadline Amid Lakers Buzz

The New York Knicks, in addition to the Los Angeles Lakers, were eyeing Utah Jazz's Walker Kessler in trade talks before the league's trade deadline, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

The Jazz made it clear that the 23-year-old was not to be engaged in any in-season trade talks, denying any attempts to entertain trade pitches for the center.

Kessler has averaged 11.4 points and 12.2 rebounds this season with the struggling 15-44 Jazz, while also boasting the league's best field goal percentage at 72.5 percent.

Kessler would have fit seamlessly with the Knicks as a backup center to Karl-Anthony Towns and complemented the foundation of the team alongside Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges.

With the potential of Kessler at the center position, Towns would have had the ability to move around to power forward, a spot currently held by OG Anunoby, and add more depth to the frontcourt.

The Knicks have gone 6-3 since the trade deadline, losing to some of the league's best teams in the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, with Brunson and Towns as the only two top scorers since the deadline.

In addition, the Lakers made it evident that they were searching for a center ahead of the trade deadline. However, the NBA world knows how that turned out, with a blockbuster swap involving Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis instead.

Kessler is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026 after signing a four-year, $13.372 million contract.