The Utah Jazz have reportedly put a five-year, roughly $140 million contract offer in front of center Walker Kessler, but ESPN reported that a gap remains between the NBA team and the restricted-free-agent big man.
Walker Kessler Offer Still Leaves Gap
ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported Wednesday that Utah's proposal is worth about $140 million over five years. Hoops Rumors, citing the ESPN report, noted that the structure works out to $28 million per season, though it is not known whether the full figure would be guaranteed.
The offer shows the Jazz are not treating Kessler as a small internal matter. ESPN reported that the deal would be the largest ever given to a center who had not yet made an All-Star team.
Kessler's leverage is shaped by restricted free agency. ESPN reported the Jazz have the right to match any offer sheet he signs, giving Utah control even if talks move into the open market phase.
Jazz Weigh Production And Shoulder History
Kessler's case is unusually clean on one side and complicated on the other. The 7-foot-2 center has already proved to be a high-end rebounder and shot blocker, but he played only five games last season before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery.
In 2024-25, Kessler averaged 12.2 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 11.1 points while shooting 66.3% from the field, according to ESPN. Those numbers explain why Utah's offer is already substantial. The injury-shortened follow-up season explains why a gap can still exist.
Hoops Rumors compared the reported $28 million annual value with several veteran centers, noting that it would sit above deals for Nic Claxton, Jakob Poeltl and Myles Turner, while remaining below Jarrett Allen's average annual salary. The same report noted that Alperen Sengun's five-year, $185 million rookie-scale extension in 2024 may be part of the broader negotiating backdrop.
Keyonte George Also In Extension Picture
The Kessler talks are not Utah's only extension question. ESPN also reported skepticism that guard Keyonte George will reach a rookie-scale extension with the Jazz this offseason.
George averaged 23.6 points and 6.1 assists in 2025-26 while posting a .609 true shooting percentage, but ESPN reported that Utah wants to see another step before becoming comfortable with a near-maximum number.
Taken together, the Kessler and George situations show a front office willing to price young core players aggressively but not automatically close early. That is useful discipline if the evaluations are right, and a little uncomfortable if the market disagrees.