The Utah Jazz's choice to move on from Walker Kessler remains one of the bigger offseason twists of 2026. The Jazz had good reason to take full advantage of the Los Angeles Lakers' desperation, but they have opened themselves up to a problem that's easy to solve: replacing an elite rim protector.
Yes, the Jazz have Jaren Jackson Jr. to mitigate that problem to some degree, but everyone's lives would have inarguably been easier if the two had paired up. Former Jazz reporter Tony Jones harped on what the Jazz are now missing with Kessler on the Lakers during his appearance on "Buha Block."
Jones said that he believes Kessler can be a "Rudy Gobert-level defender" or "essentially a one-man top-10 defense" which is what Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves need.
Kessler never exactly guided a top defense in Utah (he never came close, really), but in his defense, a) they were tanking and b) they didn't exactly surround him with good defenders. Still, comparing him to a defensive legend like Gobert is lofty, but it explains why the Lakers paid the price that they did.
Jones isn't wrong about the caliber of player that Kessler is, as he has the makings of the NBA's premier game-changers. Better yet, he proved from the jump that he's ready now, which would have fit the Jazz's plans quite easily this coming season if they had kept him.
More eyes will be on Kessler than ever before in Hollywood. By extension, that also means more eyes will be on the Jazz after they traded him away. Kessler was designated as Gobert's replacement for Utah, and now he's designated as Anthony Davis' replacement in LA.
Replacing Kessler will be an interesting challenge
Utah wouldn't have traded Kessler if they didn't believe they could build around his departure. Right now, after JJJ, they don't exactly have the most impressive frontcourt rotation in terms of defensive impact.
However, what they may be banking is simply building a culture that can compensate for what they have lost. Whether it's with the personnel they have now or the personnel they plan to acquire down the line, there's no reason to wave the white flag on them until they show exactly what they can and cannot do.
Utah knew what they signed up for when they agreed to let the situation play out the way it has. Even if they are able to succeed in replacing Kessler, that doesn't take away from the fact that he should be an excellent piece on a playoff contender for the foreseeable future.
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