Walker Kessler is headed into free agency with plenty of attention waiting for him.
According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, the Jazz center will meet with multiple teams when free agency opens on Tuesday evening, and those meetings will take place at CAA headquarters in Los Angeles. Jones also reported earlier Monday that Utah formally issued Kessler a qualifying offer, which makes the 7’2″ big man a restricted free agent. That gives the Jazz the right of first refusal, meaning they can match any offer sheet Kessler signs with another team.
Utah and Kessler’s camp have already spent time in talks during the team’s exclusive negotiating window. The Jazz reportedly put a five-year offer worth approximately $140MM on the table, but the center and his camp were said to be unhappy about the way those talks were going.
Even with “several” teams expected to show interest, the league view is that Kessler will ultimately stay in Utah, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Siegel also reports that the Jazz are looking for a veteran guard to help their young backcourt.
Norman Powell is another name drawing real interest. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype said Sunday that the Bulls are among the possible suitors, and Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal has heard the same.
A source told Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press that Powell is not expected to explore sign-and-trade scenarios out of the Heat. The 33-year-old wing just made his first All-Star team in 2025/26 after averaging 21.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting .470/.380/.827 in 58 games, or 29.6 minutes per night.
Portland’s offseason picture has shifted fast, but Joe Freeman of The Oregonian reported just before the Trail Blazers agreed to trade for two-time All-Star point guard Ja Morant that the team was interested in bringing back Robert Williams, Matisse Thybulle and Blake Wesley “if the deal makes sense.” Freeman added that there is mutual interest in a reunion with Williams. Wesley looks like the tougher fit now, at least pending more roster moves, after Morant was added to a crowded backcourt.
Ben Simmons, meanwhile, is talking about a possible return. In comments to Clay Skipper of Men’s Health that were relayed by Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com, Simmons said he’s weighing a comeback after spending this past season out of the league.
“ I plan on getting as strong as I can physically, getting my ass on the court, and then the team realizing that my abilities will be needed,” Simmons said. “ I don’t have a plan on where.”
Phoenix is also shopping for backcourt help. John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 reported that the Suns are looking for a guard using the taxpayer mid-level exception. Of the six players Gambadoro listed, Kevin Huerter and Landry Shamet have already agreed to re-sign with their teams, leaving Luke Kennard, Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson and De’Anthony Melton as the remaining options.
In Other News...
Miles Bridges Arrival Could Set Up The Suns Move Fans Want
Miles Bridges arrival gives Phoenix a little more breathing room on the roster, and that matters because the Suns have been operating with a very specific kind of opportunity in mind. Any opening created now only adds more oxygen to the speculation around what this team wants to do next, especially with Devin Booker still sitting at the center of the roster picture and the front office continuing to look for ways to reshape the guard rotation.
For fans, the obvious temptation is to connect every new move to a bigger upgrade at point guard, but the landscape is not as clean as it looks. Some names are suddenly back in play because of the opening, while other popular ideas have already been cooled off, leaving Phoenix with a handful of different paths and no clear public answer yet on which one it intends to follow. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Just Made Their Backcourt Priorities A Lot More Clear
With the offseason market still churning around the league, Phoenix appears to have a better sense of where it wants to spend its energy. The Suns are trying to extend Miles Bridges after bringing him in from Charlotte, and they are also weighing several shooting guards in free agency as they look to steady a backcourt that could use more certainty.
The bigger takeaway is how sharply the club seems to be drawing its line. While other teams are being linked to major trade possibilities involving names like Jaylen Brown, Kawhi Leonard and Khris Middleton, Phoenix is leaning toward a more measured approach with its own roster construction. For a team trying to balance star power with fit, that kind of clarity can matter just as much as the splashiest rumor. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Search For Another Guard Just Took On More Urgency
The Suns guard search became a little more pressing after a busy stretch of roster work left Phoenix with an opening to fill. With several players re-signed and Miles Bridges brought in via trade, the front office now has room to add another backcourt piece, and the timing lines up with a clear need to shore up depth around the perimeter.
Arizona Sports John Gambadoro reported that Phoenix is expected to use its taxpayer mid-level exception to chase a fourth guard in free agency, giving the team a workable path to do it without overextending. The list of possible fits spans different skill sets, from shooting and secondary scoring to defense and familiarity with the roster, which is why this remains one of the more interesting items on the Suns summer board. [Read more 🡒]