NBA Experts Discuss Walker Kessler's Jazz Future Ahead of 2026 Restricted Free Agency

The Utah Jazz and Walker Kessler might be headed toward a difficult summer as the fourth-year center approaches restricted free agency.

Kessler was briefly a topic of conversation in the newest episode of the Hoop Collective podcast.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst noted, starting at the 8:48 mark, that Utah has Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. under contract for a combined $95.1 million next season.

Colleague Tim MacMahon chimed in to say the "Jazz have a number in mind" for Kessler, which might be around $25 million annually. His agents, meanwhile, "believe he's worth much, much more than that."

The 24-year-old big is recovering from season-ending shoulder surgery. He made just five appearances before going down, and this follows a 2024-25 campaign in which he missed 24 games.

Still, Kessler could have a relatively strong market. He has averaged 13.5 points, 13.2 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per 36 minutes for his career, according to Basketball Reference. From the moment he entered the league, the 2022 first-round pick has been an impactful rebounder and rim protector.

Kessler should also benefit from the fact there aren't a ton of great alternatives for teams that want a player with his skill set.

Isaiah Hartenstein has a club option with the Oklahoma City Thunder, so he may not hit free agency at all. Likewise, the Detroit Pistons' Jalen Duren and Phoenix Suns' Mark Williams are restricted free agents. Nikola Vučević, Kristaps Porziņģis, Deandre Ayton and Mitchell Robinson are among the notable unrestricted free agents at center.

That's not a star-studded group.

As Windhorst and MacMahon laid out, rival teams may sense there's a firm limit to which the Jazz are prepared to pay Kessler when they already have so much money tied up in Markkanen and Jackson.

Some restricted free agents can find themselves boxed in, and Jonathan Kuminga was a prime example last summer.

Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors didn't reach an agreement until late September. He remained unsigned for so long because interested suitors knew Golden State was likely to match an offer sheet that didn't represent a massive overpay.

That conundrum may not apply to Kessler given the Jazz's cap situation.

When Hartenstein is getting $29 million a year from OKC, demanding a number around that wouldn't be unreasonable from Kessler's reps. And if the price is climbing toward $30 million, Utah might have to walk away from the table.