Jazz’s Hefty Price Thwarts Knicks’ Pursuit of Rim Protector Walker Kessler
Utah’s insistence on multiple first-round picks has left New York weighing cap relief from moving Mitchell Robinson versus adding an elite interior defender through three-team proposals.
Overview
- Utah Jazz have refused to lower their asking price for Walker Kessler, demanding multiple first-round picks and key rotation players in any deal.
- New York Knicks have prioritized salary-cap flexibility, signing Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele in free agency and extending Mikal Bridges on a four-year deal.
- Sports Illustrated and Empire Sports Media have circulated three-team mock trades involving the Atlanta Hawks that would send Kessler to New York in exchange for Mitchell Robinson, Pacome Dadiet and a 2026 first-round pick.
- Walker Kessler averaged 2.4 blocks per game with a 7.4 percent block rate last season, ranking him among the NBA’s elite rim protectors.
- With trade talks stalled, the Knicks continue to evaluate replacing the injury-prone Mitchell Robinson with a more impactful defensive presence.