The Utah Jazz were unable to reach an agreement with Walker Kessler on a contract extension this summer. While there is a solid rationale for this, it doesn't always sit well with players when teams don't extend them the first chance they get. Kessler admitted to feeling frustrated about not receiving an extension this summer.
During Jazz Media Day, Kessler did his best to avoid the subject when talking about extension talks, but he admitted that he's not exactly happy with how things turned out with his extension talks.
Walker Kessler on potentially not getting an extension: "I'm definitely a little frustrated ... as long as I have a Utah Jazz jersey on I will play winning basketball."
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) September 29, 2025
It's pretty easy to see where Kessler is coming from. He is coming off his best season as a pro and has already proven that what he's good at, he's elite at. While an All-Star team probably isn't in the cards for him - never say never - Kessler has proven that he can be a valuable cog on a winning team.
Ironically, Utah will not be that for some time, but for everything that isn't exactly translating into winning games, Kessler's play is not a problem for the Jazz. Although, him not getting an extension will be quite an elephant in the room.
Even if the plan is to keep Kessler, and odds are that the Jazz have assured him that they will pay him in due time, it is tough to be a player as productive as he is and still not get long-term financial security.
Hopefully the Jazz don't have a Gordon Hayward situation on their hands
The Jazz went through a similar experience with Hayward back in the 2010s. They did not extend him, and then let him linger in restricted free agency, Jonathan Kuminga-style, until Charlotte signed him to an offer sheet, which they promptly matched.
Utah figured it wouldn't hurt all that much, but little did they know that Hayward would blossom into a franchise player, and they pissed him off in the process. This promptly led to him leaving (and screwing Utah over) because they hurt his feelings.
Now, there is a key difference here. Though many have the right to believe otherwise, it would be shocking if the Jazz leave Kessler in the dark next summer like they did with Hayward back in 2014. They did this not because they don't believe in Kessler, but because they want to keep him while maintaining their cap flexibility.
Kessler has every right to be flustered at this approach, but hopefully, when the Jazz get him to sign on the dotted line in 2026, all will be forgiven.