Utah’s Walker Kessler Will Be Pricey For Other Teams

The tale of Walker Kessler, the big man out of Auburn who the Utah Jazz selected with the 22^nd pick In in the 2022 NBA draft, has been one of ups and downs.

His rookie season was sensational, impactful and efficient as he quickly emerged as a defensive shot blocking threat who the Jazz could build with.

His sophomore season was much more mixed as he was still a great shot blocker per statistics, in fact one of the NBA’s best, but struggled to stay on the floor or get big time minutes in crunch time scenarios.

Compared to his rookie year, Kessler started 18 less games and shot about 7 percent worse from the field on roughly the same amount of attempts a game averaging 8.1 PPG, down from his 9.2 PPG as a rookie.

He was pulling down almost one less rebound than his rookie season and turning the ball over more often than before while assisting, stealing and blocking at a shockingly similar rate.

He was still a serviceable player, but did little to make people think he had improved in his 2^nd year of NBA hoops.

The offseason brought trade rumors that Utah could deal the young big man for more future assets, signaling that he may not be the “building block” fans thought he was in year one.

Despite the New York Knicks knocking on the door, it was thought that Utah asked for a heavy return of two first round picks, a price New York wasn’t willing to meet.

Thus, Kessler stayed in place despite chatter and even suited up in the Salt Lake City Summer League.

With fan expectations now tempered, Kessler entered year three without a clear and precise role.

Would he start? Would he improve? Did he really peak in year one?

Well the answers are: Yes, yes and doesn’t seem like it.

Walker Kessler lifted from a downward spiral and started to ascend again.

He has arguably been the most consistent player on the team, starting all 15 games in which he has been available for.

As of late, Kessler has been on a bit of a tear, one of the lone bright spots of Jazz basketball.

As the post indicated above, Kessler has been more productive than ever before.

It’s a small sample size with plenty of season to follow, but you would be hard pressed to find a stat in which Kessler isn’t posting career highs.

More points, more rebounds and more blocks are sweet but the best indicator that Kessler has increased his play is the minutes per game category.

Never averaging more than 24 minutes a game in his whole career, Kessler is now punching in right around 29 a night, a staple in Will Hardy’s lineups, something that was in question last season.

And how about that interior defense?

So that’s great, the sophomore slump was just that, a learning curve year.

We can now go back to dubbing Walker as a “franchise cornerstone” and leave all that trade talk in the past right?

Well yes, but actually no.

Kessler is still one of the names that get’s floated out when the typical culprits are brought up for who Utah could ship out.

Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, Collin Sexton and…… Walker Kessler.

But it always comes with a caveat.

For example, Forbes NBA reporter, Evan Sidery, posted this morning that the Jazz “will hold a high asking price for Walker Kessler in potential trade talks.”

This means that:

A) The Jazz are open to trade talks involving Walker Kessler.

And B) Those talks will be very much in favor of the Utah Jazz.

Basically, Kessler’s name may be mentioned, but when it is, Utah will be the benefactor in every way shape and form.

The Jazz are not looking to trade Walker the way they might be Clarkson or Collins, they value him and his potential highly, contrary to what some may think.

But Utah is also knee-deep in a rebuild, looking for any and every way to improve their chances of putting together a championship caliber team down the road.

If someone is willing to give up more than the Jazz have to give, they will do it in the name of the rebuild.

So yes, Walker Kessler is technically available, but based on his recent production and current stock it will take a whole awful lot to pry him out of Utah’s now purple hands.