[Tony Jones] Walker Kessler and the Utah Jazz are not expected to reach an agreement on a rookie scale contract extension.
[Tony Jones] Walker Kessler and the Utah Jazz are not expected to reach an agreement on a rookie scale contract extension.
5 comments
I actually don’t mind. Maxey didn’t sign an extension, and the Sixers were able to sign Paul George, and they wouldn’t have been able to sign him (maybe which would’ve been better for the Sixers after he became washed). Us not extending Kessler makes sense. We can probably have enough capspace (wishful thinking) but to sign a Trae Young to a max, and also give Kessler his contract. Even if we can’t get Trae, we can get 2 quality starters for 20 to 25 million a year each, and also extend Kessler.
Kessler and Hardy didn’t see eye to eye a few years ago, and Kessler looked mid 2 seasons ago, probably due to a loss of confidence. Let’s hope Kessler doesn’t get mad and think the front office doesn’t want him, and he wants traded by the trade deadline to a contender, since he might see the Jazz not valuing him locking him up long term before this season starts. If he’s mad, he might be negative energy to the locker room and purposely play bad (which might actually be a good thing if we tank). Even if we match whatever contract he gets next offseason, he might not feel loyal here, and leave when is next contract is up like Hayward did, after he didn’t feel loyal here, after the Jazz matched Hayward’s restricted contract, so Hayward left us in 2017
I didn’t expect they would. But I do think Walker might feel legitimately pissed about how the Jazz are treating him. With Lauri, the Jazz gave him a max contact and bought his loyalty. With Kessler, the Jazz are arguably stifling his development, hurting his value, and still trying to negotiate hard. I could see it blowing up on them.
I doubt the Jazz even tried to negotiate beyond….”keep playing hard, we value Walker, it doesnt make any sense to sign anything until next summer.”
Makes sense. No reason for Walk to sign an under-market deal and no reason for Jazz mgmt to offer anything close to a max.
Play hard. Earn that next paycheck and the Jazz have the cap space to renegotiate or match any RFA offer.
It makes sense for all parties to wait. Walker took a real leap last season and I hope he continues that progress this season…if he does he’s gonna be an even richer man come next year this time! And in a Jazz uniform!