Jazz Offer Kessler $140M; Talks Stall
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- Utah Jazz offered restricted free agent center Walker Kessler a contract worth roughly $140 million over five years, but sources say a gulf remains between the two sides.
- The proposed deal would be the largest contract ever given to a center who had yet to be an All-Star, and the Jazz retain the right to match any offer sheet Kessler signs.
- Kessler, a 7-foot-2 shot blocker, ranked second in the NBA in blocks (2.4 per game) and fifth in rebounds (12.2) in 2024-25, but played only five games in 2025-26 before season-ending shoulder surgery.
- Sources expressed doubt the Jazz would reach a rookie extension with guard Keyonte George despite Utah's optimism, after George averaged 23.6 points and 6.1 assists with a .609 true shooting percentage in his breakout 2025-26 campaign.
- The Jazz are open to extension talks with George but want to see him build on his breakout before paying near the rookie extension maximum — and are willing to let him enter restricted free agency if no deal is reached.
- Utah owns the No. 2 overall pick in next week's NBA draft, but top prospect Darryn Peterson (Kansas) is skipping a Jazz visit and only meeting with the Washington Wizards (No. 1 pick), while BYU's AJ Dybantsa has visited both teams.
Why it matters: A $140 million offer — the richest ever for a non-All-Star center — failing to close signals Utah may be testing the market on Kessler rather than committing, leaving his future as the fulcrum of a roster that also needs to decide whether Keyonte George's breakout season warrants a max-approaching rookie extension before the draft reshapes the team.
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