The Walker Kessler drama just had itself another big twist. It's recently come out that Kessler believes he's worth more than what the Utah Jazz are offering. Part of the problem is that his market had dwindled a bit, and now, it's taken yet another significant hit.
Following the latest blockbuster trade that sends Nicolas Claxton to the Chicago Bulls, that removes yet another Kessler suitor from the picture.
Just in: Minnesota is sending Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick in the NBA Draft to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team trade that sends Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls, sources tell ESPN. The Timberwolves will acquire Brooklyn’s No. 33 pick for Randle and No. 28. pic.twitter.com/TvADMMNDlg
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2026
Chicago made sense as a Kessler suitor because of both their cap space and their need for a center. However, what may have been a turnoff for them was the fact that Utah can match any offer sheet they give him. Plus, for how good Kessler is, teams wouldn't be wise to use the entirety of their max cap space on him.
So now, with the Bulls presumably no longer an option, it's harder for Kessler to get the contract offer he wants on the open market. There are still some teams out there with cap room, but Chicago had so much of precisely that that it seemed plausible that they would make life tough for the Jazz with Kessler.
It's not a foregone conclusion, but it's safe to say we are one step closer to Kessler extending in Utah.
The Nets became a bigger threat for Kessler though
Brooklyn is also a cap space team. While they definitely took in some money, they didn't take in a whole lot. Exchanging Claxton for Randle means they have a little more money on their payroll, but the operative word here is little. However, with Claxton gone, that means they need a center and have the cap room to add one.
Updated 2026 cap space projections (factoring in the BKN-CHI-MIN trade):
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 23, 2026
1. Lakers: $52.1M
2. Nets: $36.1M
3. Bulls: $32.5M
(Lakers projection includes Reaves' cap hold and Ayton opt-in, but no other cap holds.)
Does this mean they'll use it to chase Kessler? It's hard to say. The Nets have been in a bit of a rebuild, though it's not yet clear on what they plan to do with a veteran like Randle. Also, if the plan is to keep him, it's hard to see how he and Kessler could make it work together.
Even so, the Nets are within their rights to throw caution to the wind and sign someone like Kessler because he is a big enough name even if he doesn't fit the bill of a big name. Although, as everyone knows, whether they would make an offer too rich for the Jazz's blood is hard to know.
Kessler already didn't have much leverage in the first place, this blockbuster trade is bad news for him and good news for the Jazz. They're not out of the woods, but they can definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel.
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