Just two years after acquiring Walker Kessler, who was considered a key piece in the Rudy Gobert trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Utah Jazz are now open to trading the 22-year-old center. Multiple reports suggest Kessler is available for trade, but the Jazz’s level of willingness to part with him remains unclear.
According to Ian Begley of SNY, the New York Knicks are interested in trading for Walker Kessler to fill their starting center position. However, the Jazz have already declined the Knicks’ offer for the 7-foot rim protector.
As noted, we have no way of knowing just how valuable those future first-round picks are. Did the Knicks attach heavy protections to them, such as guarding against the possibility of the selection being a top-10 pick? If so, it’s easy to see how the Jazz wouldn’t have interest.
Kessler may not have taken a giant leap forward from his rookie season to his second year in the NBA, but he’s still viewed as a player with untapped potential. Even as is, Kessler has to be considered one of the best shot-blockers in basketball, as shown by his 2.4 blocks per game last season.
So, while the Jazz may seem open to trading their young center, they don’t appear desperate. Considering he still has plenty of room for growth, it’s understandable that they’d want to see if he can take a leap in his third season, which would only increase Kessler’s trade value.
