Could the Nets pursue Jazz' Walker Kessler in NBA free-agency?

The Brooklyn Nets are hoping to significantly improve the roster following a 2025-26 season in which the team finished with a disappointing 20-62 record that ultimately led to the No. 6 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Brooklyn is projected to be one of just a few teams in the league to have significant cap space so could they pursue someone like Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler?

“Meanwhile, sources tell The Athletic that a player who does want to be there – big man Walker Kessler – is at odds with the front office over his lack of an extension offer last summer and the current handling of his restricted free agency,” Sam Amick of The Athletic reported earlier this week on Kessler and the Jazz. While Kessler has largely been expected to go back to Utah, these contract negotiations could make him more available than initially projected.

“A gulf remains between restricted free agent center Walker Kessler and the Jazz after Utah put an offer worth roughly $140 million over five years on the table, sources told ESPN,” Tim MacMahon reported for ESPN when describing why Kessler and the Jazz are not seeing eye-to-eye at the moment. If Kessler is looking for more than $28 million per year on his next contract, the onus is then on Utah to decide if he is worth that money to them.

Kessler, 24, is coming off a 2025-26 season that was technically the best of his four-year career as he averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 70.3% from the field and 70.0% from the free-throw line. However, Kessler played in just five games after suffering a season-ending labral tear in his left shoulder that required surgery.

When it comes to the Nets, they already have starter Nic Claxton and backup Day’Ron Sharpe under contract for the 2026-27 season, but Sharpe has a $6.25 million team option that Brooklyn has to make a decision on soon. While the expectation is that the Nets will bring Sharpe back after he is coming off the best season of his career, Brooklyn could opt to use some of its cap space to sign a player like Kessler if he could be signed at a value.

Difficult day for the Jazz on the optics front: Here you have Darryn Peterson refusing to work out for the team with the No. 2 pick, one year after Ace Bailey did the same (when they had No. 5).

Meanwhile, sources tell @TheAthletic that a player who does want to be there – big…

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) June 15, 2026

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Could the Nets pursue Jazz’ Walker Kessler in NBA free-agency?