Walker Kessler's had a nice bounceback season with the Utah Jazz following a disappointing performance last season. Even so, that hasn't stopped his name from being mentioned in trade rumors.
It's fair to say that Kessler's future with the Jazz will remain uncertain until he's either traded or completely off the rumor mill. Unlike some of their other trade candidates like Jordan Clarkson or John Collins, the Jazz would only trade him in a deal where they get the most value possible.
With all that out there, The Athletic's Will Guillory highlighted a trade scenario written by a fan involving the Jazz and Pelicans that would send Kessler to New Orleans. The deal in question is as follows:
Pelicans receive: Kessler
Jazz receive: Jordan Hawkins
Note: Guillory did not propose this trade, and in fact, explained why it wouldn't really work from a Pelicans perspective. He noted that a deal like this was more plausible back when the Pelicans needed a center, which they don't really anymore because of Yves Missi's emergence.
He also noted that despite Kessler's presence, he doesn't see the Jazz center as a game-changer and that the Pelicans shouldn't sell on Hawkins' potential as a shooter.
So it goes without saying that the Jazz wouldn't make a trade like this. Straight up, this trade doesn't work. However, this is an intriguing scenario if more is at play in a trade like this, but before any elaboration, let's get this out of the way.
Grade: F
The Jazz and Pelicans could work as trade partners
The Pelicans aren't swimming in trade assets like they were back when they traded Anthony Davis in 2019, but they still have plenty left over from the Jrue Holiday trade. Maybe Hawkins isn't who the Jazz should target if the two discuss Kessler, but that draft capital in The Big Easy is worth inquiring about.
Alternatively, if the Pelicans don't want to trade some of the valued first-rounders, trading Kessler to the Pelicans could serve as an opportunity to get Clarkson or Collins off their payroll. However, even if the Jazz want them off the team, they may not be that desperate to dangle Kessler to do just that.
The other wrinkle is that helping the Pelicans could affect the current tanking race. The Pelicans are ahead of the Jazz, but not by much. Improving the Pelicans' current team could vault the Jazz up a spot in the chase for Cooper Flagg.
While the proposed trade above does not work at all, the Pelicans and Jazz becoming trade partners makes a fair amount of sense.