The Utah Jazz’s search for a Walker Kessler replacement has already kicked up a few different names, and Myles Turner is the one that keeps forcing the conversation into a more interesting place.
Dan Lower of The J-Notes recently floated Kel’El Ware as a possible option, while pointing out that Milwaukee still has Turner starting at center. That part is what makes the whole thing feel a little strange.
If the Bucks are truly headed into a new era after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, it stands to reason they should be leaning hard into their younger talent. Turner could easily end up back on the trade block once Milwaukee fully commits to its rebuild, even if that doesn’t happen immediately given how rough things already are.
If Turner does become available, Utah would be looking at a replacement for Kessler that is messy, unconventional, and still potentially very good.
The Jazz’s defense already has enough questions hanging over it, even with Jaren Jackson Jr. in the mix. Beyond him, Utah has a few players who might grow into plus defenders, but nothing that feels settled right now.
Losing Kessler only sharpens that concern. The roster, as it stands, leaves enough openings for people to compare the defense to Swiss cheese.
Turner doesn’t erase all of that by himself. But when he’s right, he brings exactly the kind of tools a playoff team can use: floor spacing and rim protection. That combination matters, and it gives Utah a real reason to look past the flaws.
There is, of course, a catch. Turner is coming off a rough season in Milwaukee, one where his numbers dropped sharply.
The easiest read is that the move to a sinking Bucks team played a huge role in that slide, and that there wasn’t much anyone could do to stop it. Milwaukee is starting over this season with a new coach and new faces, and even if the team still isn’t expected to be good, there’s at least a chance to build some kind of identity that simply wasn’t there last year.
If Turner can show that last season was the outlier, his value to Utah changes fast.
That’s where the fit gets intriguing. Turner would give the Jazz another legitimate floor spacer, which could open up a strong inside-out look with Keyonte George and Darryn Peterson. Utah could also go five-out with Turner, JJJ, and Lauri Markkanen, and do it as long as it wants.
Defensively, Turner and Jackson on the same front line would look excellent on paper. It wouldn’t solve everything, but it would make the Jazz a much tougher group to score on around the basket.
The one obvious concern is rebounding. Turner has never been strong there, and last season he averaged 5.3 rebounds, which was worse than ever for him. Still, the shot-blocking presence of Turner and Jackson together could help cover that weakness simply by changing so many attempts.
That’s why the appeal is so clear, even if the fit is imperfect. Turner would be flawed, but he could also be fantastic if he gets back to the level he had before joining the Bucks.
The biggest obstacle is the money. Turner is attached to a hefty deal that will pay him just under $30 million per year for the next three seasons. Since Kessler makes only a little more than Turner does, bringing Turner in would naturally raise the question of why Utah didn’t just keep Kessler in the first place.
A move like that only makes sense if the Jazz are completely convinced Turner is the final piece of a title push. Right now, that’s impossible to know without seeing what this current roster actually looks like in action.
If Utah does go hunting for a big man upgrade later on, it could end up looking at cheaper options or players whose weaknesses don’t expose the rest of the roster so badly. Turner is not a perfect player. But he might still be the right one to replace Kessler, even if the two big men bring very different things to the table.
In Other News...
Walker Kessler Cost The Lakers More Than Jazz Fans Realized
Walker Kesslers move from Utah to Los Angeles was always going to carry bigger ripple effects than a simple change of scenery, and the Lakers are treating him like a cornerstone rather than a short-term addition. The 7-footers appeal has long centered on his defense, but the front office is also talking about him as someone who can grow on offense, with the coaching staff pushing him to extend his shooting range as he settles into a new role.
For Jazz fans, the trade already looked like a major transaction on paper, even before Kesslers season-ending shoulder surgery in November 2025 complicated the timeline. What makes it even more notable now is how much the Lakers invested to get him, and how aggressively they are building around the idea that he can anchor the middle for years while adding more dimensions to his game. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Missed Move That Could Ease Post Giannis Future
As Milwaukee tries to map out life after the Giannis Antetokounmpo era, the Bucks are already feeling the weight of the money committed around him. Damian Lillard and Myles Turner account for major payroll obligations, and when the on-court returns have not matched the price tag, the front offices margin for error gets thin in a hurry. It is the kind of roster squeeze that makes every decision look larger in hindsight, especially when cap flexibility starts to disappear.
One hypothetical path that could have given the Bucks a little more breathing room would have involved Utahs John Collins and Collin Sexton in a deal for Lillard, a construction that was never reported or rumored but does underline the kind of roster gymnastics teams consider when the alternatives are bad. From the Jazz side, both players remain part of a picture that can help shape the market, while Milwaukee is left staring at limited clean solutions and a future that still looks complicated. [Read more 🡒]