Walker Kessler is already making his presence felt in Los Angeles, and his first trip back to Utah is set for tomorrow.
After the Lakers’ win over the Clippers last night, Kessler made it clear there’s no bad blood heading into the matchup with his former team. He had praise for both Will Hardy and the Jazz, saying, "I'm so excited to compete against those guys.
Coach (Will) Hardy does a great job with that franchise, and all my past teammates, they're great players. Really talented, really competitive.
So I think it's going to be a great, competitive game, so I'm just excited to go up there and compete."
That kind of reaction fits the way this split has unfolded so far. Kessler got the deal he wanted, the Jazz didn’t walk away empty-handed, and the move has at least given Utah some flexibility if it ever needs to pivot again, whether this season or later.
Even so, Kessler’s return is likely to get a rough reception in Utah. That doesn’t change the fact that, at least for now, the separation looks amicable.
The larger wrinkle is what happens if Kessler keeps fitting so cleanly with the Lakers. Through two games, it’s hard not to notice why Los Angeles paid what it did: not just for Kessler himself, but for the way he can work alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. So far, that fit is looking exactly as advertised.
It’s still early, and nobody needs to overreact yet. But if the Lakers climb into a tier above the Jazz, Kessler’s role in that possibility will be hard to ignore.
Utah, though, has a chance to make this about something else entirely. The game against Los Angeles should tell a lot about where the Jazz stand right now. If they can beat both Kessler and the Lakers, that would say plenty about how much progress they’ve already made.
In Other News...
Walker Kessler's Exit Leaves The Jazz Facing A Bigger Free Agency Problem
Walker Kesslers move from Utah to the Lakers has already shifted the focus from the trade itself to what his next contract might have looked like in a Jazz uniform. His debut in Los Angeles was only part of the story, because the bigger takeaway for Utah is how a young restricted free agent can use the process to gain leverage, even when the team still technically controls the paperwork.
The Jazz were entering a tricky stretch with Kesslers restricted free agency, and the way he handled it may become a model for other players in similar spots. For Utah, the lesson goes beyond one trade. It raises the possibility that future restricted free agents could treat the qualifying offer not just as a fallback, but as a way to steer their own careers when the teams preferred outcome is something else. [Read more 🡒]
Jazz First Win Brings Early Hope For Utahs New Lineup
The home opener offered the kind of early-season encouragement the Jazz have been searching for, with Utah edging the New Orleans Pelicans 120-119 while unveiling a new starting lineup. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the way with 24 points and 10 rebounds, and the group around him looked sharper on both ends than it did in the first game, with Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson, Jaxson Hayes and Lauri Markkanen all making their presence felt.
For a team trying to build something new, the night mattered as much for the feel as for the result. Utah showed better spacing, more activity defensively and enough late-game poise to survive a tight finish, which is exactly the sort of baseline this lineup needed after an uneven start. The challenge now is turning one encouraging win into something more sustainable as the rotation settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Jazz May Need A Frontcourt Rotation Change Against The Pelicans
Utah heads into its second game of the 2026-27 regular season against New Orleans still sorting out the frontcourt mix, and the opener offered an early look at how the Jazz may have to manage the position while Jusuf Nurkic is out with an injury. The challenge is straightforward enough: the Jazz need more reliable size and energy inside, and the early-season rotation is already being shaped by health, timing and who is ready to handle a bigger load.
Kyle Filipowskis playing time in the opener was limited as he continues to work back from offseason back surgery, which leaves room for his role to grow if he keeps trending in the right direction. Mo Bamba is also part of the conversation for a larger assignment, giving Utah another option to shore up the frontcourt and maybe force a change in how the Jazz distribute minutes against a Pelicans team that can test depth in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]