The Jazz have already been linked to Daniel Gafford as a possible answer after moving Walker Kessler, and the fit is easy to see. Gafford isn’t Kessler, but he’s proven he can be the kind of center who fills in the final gap on a contender. Dallas found that out after bringing him in at the previous trade deadline, then riding that move all the way to the NBA Finals.
That’s exactly why the Mavericks are not in a rush to move him for cheap. According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, Dallas is sticking to its asking price.
"Speaking of Gafford, the Mavs continue to signal that they will be very open to any deal involving Gafford that would net them a first-round pick," Siegel wrote.
Utah has the draft capital to make that conversation real. The Jazz have a number of first-round picks to work with, and if Gafford is the player they view as the best replacement for Kessler, they have the ammo to get there.
Still, that doesn’t mean they have to act quickly. First-round picks carry even more weight now because of the flattened lottery odds, and Dallas is making it clear it won’t just hand over a useful player like Gafford while entering a transitional stretch.
There’s a strong argument that Gafford should be Utah’s top target if the team is searching for a Kessler replacement. But the Jazz also have no reason to force the issue, especially if they’re not eager to part with a first-rounder.
That could shift if Gafford is the last piece.
Even without Kessler, Utah is expected to be a strong team, though there’s no question the outlook would feel different with him still on the roster. Then again, the Jazz made the trade because they believe in what they have. They’re also one of the more difficult teams to project right now, with a roster that leaves their ceiling wide open.
They might be good enough already for the Kessler move not to matter much. Or they might be the type of team that feels it in a bigger way than expected.
Either way, Utah seems willing to let that play out. But if the front office decides the roster only needs one more piece at center - someone good enough to patch the holes and help them make real noise in the West - then the price starts to make more sense.
Dallas already took that same swing in 2024, and it worked out well even without a championship. If the Jazz believe Gafford can do the same for them, or even more, then a first-round pick is a fair price, depending on which pick is actually on the table.
In Other News...
Jazz Still Have One Roster Decision Left This Offseason
The Jazz are sitting at a full 15-man roster after adding Mo Bamba on a two-year contract, but the move may not close the book on their offseason just yet. Utah still has a little roster flexibility built into the signing, which matters this time of year when teams are weighing not only fit and depth, but also whether one more move could improve the group before camp turns into the regular season.
Kevin Love is the name that naturally hangs over the conversation, especially after he spent part of last season with Utah before reaching free agency again. If the Jazz decide they want to create room, the path is there, and that leaves one final decision worth watching as the roster settles in around the edges. [Read more 🡒]
Walker Kessler Trade Could Leave Lakers Facing Another Tough Choice
The Jazzs deal sending Walker Kessler to the Lakers for four first-round draft assets was always going to ripple beyond the immediate frontcourt fit. It gave Utah a major haul of future capital, while Los Angeles got the rim protection it had been chasing, but the move also changed the pressure points on the Lakers roster in a hurry.
Analyst Zach Lowe has suggested the Lakers could be boxed in by the trade, with the new structure possibly forcing them to make another painful decision to balance the roster. Austin Reaves naturally comes into that conversation because Utah once had interest in him, though the Jazz now have a healthier group of young guards and less reason to chase that kind of move. [Read more 🡒]