New NBA Rumors on Walker Kessler's Future with Jazz After Jaren Jackson Jr. Trade
After the Utah Jazz acquired star big man Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, many wondered what the trade means for the future of promising young center Walker Kessler.
However, it sounds like the Jazz are hoping to retain Kessler this offseason when he becomes a restricted free agent. NBA insider Zach Lowe explained on Wednesday's episode of The Zach Lowe Show that Utah is hoping to keep the 24-year-old in the fold alongside Jackson.
"To put Jaren Jackson Jr., who is under contract through 2030 with a $50 million average salary over the next four years after this one, to pair him with Lauri Markkanen, presumably Walker Kessler, who is a restricted free agent, and all the reporting and everything I've heard is they intend to bring him back and at least experiment with a triple big lineup," Lowe said around the 31:39 mark. "And then a young core of Keyonte George, who I think, like, he may not be the reason this trade happened, but I'm not sure if this trade happens without the Jazz feeling pretty certain, we've got a guy on the perimeter in Keyonte George."
Kessler appeared in five games this season and got off to a scorching start before being forced to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. Before getting injured, he averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals while shooting 70.3 percent from the field.
Keeping Kessler on the roster would allow Jackson to play the power forward position more consistently, which would help him to utilize his versatility on defense. Jackson has never been a top-flight rebounder with a career average of just 5.6 per game, so Utah will need a rebounding machine like Kessler by his side to create an effective frontcourt combination.
The Jazz will have to wait until next year to see how Jackson and Kessler fit together, but it sounds like they're looking forward to deploying the two skyscrapers in an ultra-big lineup when the time comes.
