Walker Kessler isn't Rudy Gobert, but he doesn't have to be for the Utah Jazz to reach the highest level. More importantly, it would be unfair to put him in the same stratosphere as one of the best defenders the NBA has ever seen. However, Kessler's price tag this summer could be determined by the one Gobert got for Utah to retain his services.
ESPN's Tim MacMahon gave his latest on where the Jazz and Kessler stand during his appearance on ESPN700. While previous intel suggests Kessler's extension price has already been mapped out, MacMahon revealed Kessler and his camp may use Gobert's first extension in Utah as a price, while also adjusting for inflation.
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Gobert's first long-term deal with the Jazz was for four years, paying him $102 million. In the first year of that deal, he was paid almost $22 million, making him the 32nd-highest-paid player in the league during the 2017-18 season.
That was pretty good money back then, but it was far from franchise player money. One could argue Gobert was underpaid with his best years as a Jazzman ahead of him. Anyway, the highest-paid player of that season was Stephen Curry, who made almost $37.5 million that year.
It makes sense, and Curry was worth every penny for Golden State, but compared to this coming season, that would be the 47th-highest paid contract for the 2026-27 season. Right ahead of, ironically enough, Gobert.
Part of why Gobert wasn't paid all that much back then was because the Jazz hadn't experienced much success and he had missed some extensive time because of injuries, but even then, that was a pretty team-friendly deal.
Will the Jazz go over $30 million to pay Kessler?
Kessler is quite good for what he brings to the table, but he's not quite on the same level as Gobert was by the time he wrapped up his fourth year as a Jazzman. The Jazz would be fools to offer him exactly what they were paying Gobert, as player contracts have risen exponentially over the last eight years.
But they have gained so much leverage over the past several months that it's hard to see them paying up for someone who hasn't gotten any accolades nor has he helped any playoff teams since joining Utha back in 2022.
Note that Gobert had helped the Jazz reach the second round of the playoffs, made the All-NBA second team, an All-Defense first team, and led the league in blocks all before his next deal. The only accolade Kessler has is an All-Rookie first team appearance.
Kessler could have similar accolades in due time, but they haven't come yet. It'd be smart of him to use Gobert's first contract to set the bar for what he wants, but the Jazz would also be smart to compare their accolades to justify why they're more than happy to play hardball despite what he brings to the table.
