The Los Angeles Lakers may have just received their clearest opening yet to land one of their most persistent trade targets.
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler, long viewed by the Lakers as an ideal defensive anchor, appears headed toward restricted free agency after contract extension talks with Utah stalled — a development that could reshape the offseason market and reignite Los Angeles’ pursuit.
According to Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com, negotiations between Kessler and the Jazz broke down over money, with the two sides failing to bridge a significant valuation gap.
“In contract discussions with the Jazz, Kessler sought upwards of $120 million in total compensation for a long-term contract extension,” Afseth reported last week. “Utah was unwilling to commit to that price range.”
“There was a clear gap in talks between Kessler and Utah,” one source told Afseth.
Contract Impasse Pushes Walker Kessler Toward Restricted Free Agency
GettyRui Hachimura of the Los Angeles Lakers drives past Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz.
If no agreement is reached by season’s end, Kessler would enter restricted free agency, placing pressure on Utah to either match outside offers or reconsider its long-term financial outlook.
To command that level of contract, Kessler would need to find a team willing to make a sizable offer sheet — a scenario that becomes increasingly realistic given the projected cap flexibility of several contenders.
The Lakers, in particular, loom as a potential threat.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Los Angeles could open as much as $50 million in cap space this offseason, depending on how player options and roster decisions unfold.
Lakers Have Repeatedly Targeted Kessler in Trade Talks
Los Angeles’ interest in Kessler is nothing new.
In September, Lakers Daily’s Ashish Mathur reported — citing a league source — that the Lakers planned to renew discussions for Kessler during the 2025-26 season after failing to meet Utah’s asking price in previous negotiations.
“They’ve tried to get Walker Kessler many times; they have not been able to meet that steep price,” ESPN’s Shams Charania said in January on NBA Countdown.
Michael Scotto of Hoopshype added that Utah’s demands in past talks included at least two first-round picks, a price the Lakers have consistently declined to pay.
That dynamic could change this summer, as Los Angeles is expected to have greater draft flexibility and financial leverage than in previous seasons.
Walker Kessler’s Injury Clouds Market but Doesn’t Diminish Value
Kessler’s season was cut short in November due to a shoulder injury, halting what had been a promising start.
Before the injury, the 7-foot-1 center was averaging 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 blocks over five games, showcasing the rim protection and interior presence that have made him one of the league’s most coveted young big men.
At just 24 years old, Kessler remains one of the NBA’s elite shot blockers and defensive anchors — attributes the Lakers badly need.
Los Angeles currently ranks 20th in defensive rating, a troubling number for a team with championship aspirations.
Ayton Solid, But Kessler Fits Lakers’ Long-Term Vision
The Lakers’ offseason acquisition of former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton has stabilized the center position. Ayton is averaging 15.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.0 block as the team’s starter.
However, Ayton holds an $8 million player option for next season, introducing uncertainty into Los Angeles’ long-term frontcourt plans.
Kessler, younger and more reliable as a rim protector, would align better with the Lakers’ desire to build a sustainable defensive core rather than relying on short-term solutions.
Jazz Still Hold Leverage — But Frustration Lingers
Despite the stalled talks, Utah has not abandoned its belief in Kessler as a foundational piece.
The Athletic’s Tony Jones reported that financial flexibility — not a lack of faith — drove the Jazz’s decision to delay an extension.
“By not signing Kessler now, he would have a cap hold of $14.9 million next summer, which would give the Jazz enough space to keep Kessler’s hold and still do work in free agency,” Jones wrote in September. “Then, the Jazz and Kessler theoretically can come to an agreement.”
Utah retains significant leverage. The Jazz can exceed the cap to re-sign Kessler using Bird rights and can match any offer sheet he receives in restricted free agency.
Still, the impasse has not gone unnoticed by the player.
“I’m definitely a little frustrated with how things have gone,” Kessler told reporters at Utah’s media day. “But regardless, I love Utah… As long as I have a Utah Jazz jersey on, I’m going to play winning basketball.”
Lakers Monitoring Situation Closely
For now, the Jazz remain in control — but the stalled negotiations have cracked the door open.
And for the Lakers, who have chased Walker Kessler for years, that opening could finally be enough to turn long-standing interest into a real opportunity.
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