Jazz's controversial Walker Kessler decision may come back to haunt them

The Utah Jazz made the bold but team-friendly decision to wait until next summer to extend Walker Kessler. They will have the edge in free agency because he's restricted, but with the progress Kessler has shown to start this season, the Jazz may have to pay more. Especially because the Lakers will be right there and may pay up for him.

The Lakers have been linked to Kessler in the past (though thankfully not recently), but NBA Insider Jake Fischer revealed that the Lakers will be on the prowl for a center this season while naming Kessler as one of their options.

"From Walker Kessler to Jalen Duren to every other center that's going to hit the open market next year, the fact that the Lakers are set to have cap space, agents and rival teams are looking at the Lakers as not having found their center of the future," Fischer said.

Currently, the Lakers have Deandre Ayton manning the five spot, and he's doing a pretty solid job, but after how badly he tailspinned after Phoenix gave him a max deal, the Lakers understandably may not trust him with a raise.

Kessler is younger, has shown even more improvement after bouncing back last season, and would cover a lot of ground for the Lakers. While the Jazz are likely re-signing him no matter what, the Lakers may force them to pay even more than what they are comfortable with.

No matter what, Kessler is getting paid

Even if they weren't in the running (and they definitely won't be Kessler's only suitor), Kessler's stats early on have been pretty good proof that Utah will have to give him everything he wants this coming summer. 17.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.3 blocks while shooting 75% from the field and 75% from three is a pretty strong sign that Kessler has reached another gear as a player.

Okay, the three-point percentage will go down as he continues to take them and once the sample size gets larger, but still, to improve even more after already showing the Jazz he was one of the league's best rim protectors and rebounders last season has to make the team feel excited for what's to come this season and then some.

The Jazz probably already knew that re-signing him would come at a hefty price, and that price will probably go up even higher if he keeps up this level of production. Not only is that one step further, but it might be enough for him to get All-Star and/or All-NBA consideration this season.

Even if he doesn't, Kessler has proven that what he does isn't easily replaceable. That's exactly what teams pay through the teeth to get, and why it's in the Jazz's best interest to not play games with Kessler's extension.