The Utah Jazz have struggled a lot more than anyone would have liked to start this season. It's even more painful to know that Walker Kessler and the Los Angeles Lakers have been pretty much the exact opposite. Kessler has been exactly what the 8-2 Lakers wanted: a perfect fit next to Luka Doncic.
As everyone should know, Kessler put the Jazz in a bind this summer. After the Jazz traded him to the Lakers, it was revealed that he told them that if they didn't trade him, he would have taken the qualifying offer, thus making him a restricted free agent.
Evidently, Danny Ainge and Utah's front office didn't even bother to try to call his bluff. One question remains though: how did this situation come about? Did trading for Jaren Jackson Jr. get Kessler to request a trade or did the Jazz trade for JJJ because they knew ahead of time that Kessler wanted out?
We may never know the answer to that question, but it is something worth pondering. Kessler was upset when Utah did not go out of their way to extend him during the 2025 NBA Offseason, but it made sense. Not extending him then gave them the chance to both re-sign him the following summer and get a big name free agent.
The prospect of re-signing him got tougher not just because of the JJJ trade but because Keyonte George had an unexpected breakout season, meaning that even if Kessler re-signed, Utah would have eventually has to part ways with JJJ, George, Kessler, or Lauri Markkanen not too long from then.
Whatever it was, Kessler wanted to control his destiny, and the Jazz granted him that. Sadly, though, only one side has benefited from the move thus far.
Either scenario is quite plausible
When the JJJ trade happened, there was a lot of hype about what he and Kessler would look like together when the latter returned next season. While there were rumors that Kessler and the Jazz were definitely going to play hardball this past summer, nothing suggested that he wasn't coming back until the trade happened.
Kessler has also previously been linked to the Lakers back in 2024 when they were hoping to add him next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Utah was only willing to play ball if they got the haul they eventually got for him this past summer, but the Lakers said no.
While we know that Kessler wanted the Lakers in the end, we don't know if that's what he had wanted for some time or if the Jazz's roster construction made him want out. It's hard not to regret trading Kessler from the Jazz's end, but it will be years before we know for sure if Utah made the right decision.
Add us as a preferred source on Google