Right now, there hasn't been any intel suggesting the Utah Jazz are looking for a Walker Kessler replacement. With Jusuf Nurkic, Kyle Filipowski, and Jaxson Hayes, they are operating with a center-by-committee approach that could compensate for Kessler's absence, but that's no guarantee it will hold up if they go on an extended playoff run.
If it's clear Utah is only a center upgrade away from being a title contender, Jarrett Allen would be the picture-perfect replacement for Kessler. Cleveland is scrambling at the moment, but they aren't at the point where Allen would be on the table, per NBA Insider Jake Fischer.
"Sources say that the Hawks have indeed made their interest in Jarrett Allen known to Cleveland for some time, but I'm told that Cleveland still has not entertained moving its starting center," Fischer wrote.
Cleveland missed out on LeBron James, which is kind of a disastrous setback for them, but they are coming off a pretty successful playoff run, though their sweep at the hands of the New York Knicks would indicate that they still have a long way to go.
For the time being, it appears Allen is staying where he is, which means the Jazz may have to look elsewhere should it become clear a Kessler replacement is exactly what they need. However, a lot changes when teams see their trajectories with the rosters they've assembled.
If things don't improve in Cleveland, this could change
The Cavaliers went the furthest they've gone without LeBron James since the 1990s. Impressive as it is, the cards stacked in their favor. This season, it will be different. More teams will be right there with him, with teams that technically did less than them - Boston, Philadelphia, Miami - are expected to be even better next season.
If that's the case, the Cavaliers may have adjust the formula to not only stay with the best of the best, but to rise up if they want, and that could make Allen expendable. Getting an upgrade or pieces who fit better around them could come at the expense of Allen, and the Jazz actually have some assets that could appease Cleveland or anyone else in need of just that.
Utah has two of Cleveland's draft assets from the Donovan Mitchell trade on top of young talent that could intrigue the Cavaliers and/or a team that wants just that.
Right now, Cleveland is clearly not looking towards the nuclear option, but it's also clear that they're running out of options. Trading Allen might be their best bet towards reaching the goal they want, which coincidentally could lead to Utah getting the last piece of their championship puzzle.
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