Walker Kessler is up for an extension this summer with the Utah Jazz. After the season he had in Utah, it would seem like a given that the team will keep him. While they haven't agreed to an extension yet, a Jazz executive basically confirmed that Kessler will be part of the future.
While talking with Spotrac's Keith Smith, the executive made it clear that Utah has every intention of keeping Kessler.
“We’d love to get Walker signed. We have a whole lot of flexibility, because Lauri (Markkanen) is the only veteran we have on a long-term deal. That will come into play with Walker, too, because he’ll be the next guy on a long-term deal. That’s something we have to be mindful of, as we plan and build our roster out in the immediate and for the future,” the executive told Smith.
At first glance, fans may read into the fact that Kessler hasn't signed an extension yet. However, it has actually been explained in good detail in the past that it's in Utah's best interest to wait until next season when the team has cap flexibility and can keep Kessler. If Kessler goes unsigned next offseason, that is something worth reading into.
A fair number of contracts are coming off the books after this season, including Jusuf Nurkic, KJ Martin, and Kevin Love (though it's unclear if Love or Martin will be on their opening night roster three months from now). Also, Kyle Anderson's contract for next season is non-guaranteed.
As the Jazz executive alluded to, the only long-term contract on the books is Markkanen, so there would be nothing holding them back. Because Kessler is coming off a return to form season, there'd be no reason to play hardball.
The current restricted free agents shouldn't reflect on Kessler next year
It's been a tale as old as time that restricted free agents can be complicated because interested suitors often find it pointless to sign them to offer sheets. It's why, despite what they've shown, Jonathan Kuminga, Josh Giddey, Quentin Grimes, and Cam Thomas all remain unsigned.
While that may stress some people out because the Jazz will likely wait until Kessler becomes a restricted free agent to extend him, it would be shocking if Utah plays the same game. Only three years into his NBA career, while not necessarily better than some of the current restricted free agents as a whole, he is one of the best rim protectors and rebounders in the game.
That's not easy to replace in the modern NBA, so it's in Utah's best interest to work out a deal for the center. Even if he will likely start next summer as a restricted free agent, it shouldn't take long for him to be taken off the market.