Walker Kessler is a hot topic for the Utah Jazz who will only get hotter with every passing month. It was hard to see the Jazz trading for him, though no one said he was untouchable. However, the Jazz pretty much confirmed that he is, and in so doing, confirm their plans to re-sign him.
NBA Insider Chris Haynes confirmed that, before the Indiana Pacers went all in for Ivica Zubac, they tried to pry Kessler from the Jazz, dangling two unprotected first-round picks, but Utah turned them down.
Sources: Indiana Pacers made a run at Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler and offered a package highlighted by two unprotected first-round picks. It was declined and Pacers pivoted to Zubac. Kessler will be in demand as a restricted free agent this summer.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 5, 2026
Haynes didn't clarify which picks the Pacers were dangling, but compared to what they gave up to the Clippers in their trade for Zubac, there's no telling if they went as far dangling their almost completely unprotected pick this year.
The fact that two unprotected picks were not good enough to entice the Jazz indicates that they are very high on Kessler and have every intention to keep him. Kessler will be an unrestricted free agent, and with the skillset he has, there's no telling if the Jazz would have been able to adequately replace what he brings.
Plus, with the Pacers, a team slated to have cap room that needed a center until today, no longer an option, that gives Utah even more of an inside track to keep him around. The Wizards waived the white flag on their pursuit of Kessler by trading for Anthony Davis, and the Pacers pretty much did the same.
It also confirms the Jazz truly are done swapping players for picks
This was already evident when they traded their best assets for Jaren Jackson Jr., but this is simply more proof of that. Utah is no longer invested in the hypothetical. They are now building a real playoff team. Trading Kessler would have taken away from that.
They may not necessarily be done with hoarding picks in general - they got one for taking on Chris Boucher today - but they're not trading valuable players like Kessler for them anymore. In fact, the Jazz have so many second-round draft assets that it's hard not to think they plan to go in the opposite direction in due time.
Yes, Utah plans to stay the course for their tank this season. With all the trades that happened before the deadline passed, they will have more tanking competitors from here. However, now the fans see what they're doing.
With the moves they made, along with the tank and Kessler's potential re-signing, Utah wants to win starting this fall. Trading Kessler would only further frustrate and confuse fans, as they are pretty much done with all the losing.
The losing might not be done yet, but at least we know now that they will be.