Well before the offseason started, the forecast on Walker Kessler's restricted free agency was that he and the Utah Jazz were in for a staring contest this summer. Well, fast forward to now, and it's clear both sides subverted expectations, as not only was he traded, but the Jazz took care of that situation pretty quickly.
That decision has looked better not just because of what Utah got back in the deal, but also because they no longer have this hanging over their heads. We can't say the same about Jalen Duren and Detroit, nor with Peyton Watson and Denver. It's gotten so bad, and it could get worse for all sides, per NBA Insider Marc Stein.
"League sources say Watson, like Detroit's Jalen Duren, has been weighing the unappealing prospect of playing out the 2026-27 season on a qualifying offer with the intent to become an unrestricted free agent next summer," Stein wrote.
The Jazz avoided this situation with Kessler by sorting it out once the Lakers came calling. Better yet, they took full advantage of LA's desperation, and now they have the assets to get even better long-term and at the same time, don't have to worry about confronting that anytime soon.
To be fair, Utah also got lucky
Besides the fact that they got the best package possible back for Kessler (someone they didn't necessarily want to give up), Utah got lucky that Los Angeles specifically wanted Kessler and were willing to everything they can to get him.
Making them even luckier was that they knew ahead of time LeBron James wasn't coming back to LA, so it was easier to help a rival who was bound to lose someone as vital as James this coming season because it would lessen the blow of losing Kessler.
Even so, Utah not letting this drag on longer than it needed to took a load off everyone's mind. In all fairness, what's happening with Duren and Watson is how restricted free agency typically plays out. If teams don't want to pay them as much as they want, they are more than happy to wait until either someone else gives them that offer sheet or get that free agent back on said team's terms.
Many though that's where things were headed with Kessler and the Jazz, but luckily, they took care of this pretty quickly. We have to acknowledge though that the fashion in which they handled the situation was the exception, not the norm. Duren's and Watson's current situations with their teams not only prove juat that, but are also simply the latest examples.
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