After a long-lasting negotiation process, the Chicago Bulls re-signed restricted free agent Josh Giddey to a four-year, $100 million deal, and they could be active in restricted free agency again next offseason.
According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, the Utah Jazz and 7-footer Walker Kessler aren’t expected to reach an agreement on a rookie-scale contract extension, meaning he’ll enter restricted free agency next summer. The big man has evolved into one of the NBA’s premier shot blockers, averaging 2.4 blocks per game over his three-year career.
With few other teams having the cap space to compete, the Bulls were able to retain Giddey. They are expected to be in a similar position next summer and could offer Kessler a lucrative deal to replace Nikola Vucevic, who is entering the final year of his contract.
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NBA writer urges Bulls to move for Walker Kessler
Following the news of Utah’s failed extension talks with Kessler, Andrew Hanlon of Pippen Ain’t Easy mentioned the Auburn product as an ideal target for Chicago.
“Chicago just experienced what restricted free agency can be like in today’s NBA during its contract standoff with Giddey, but the Bulls will be able to do what no team could with the Aussie this summer and back up the Brinks truck to lure Kessler out of Utah — Chicago is expected to have the most cap room of any team in the league in 2026,” he wrote.
While the Jazz have held a high asking price for Kessler on the trade market in the past, that remains an option for the Bulls as well. By trading for him this season, they’d make their chances of signing him in 2026 even better, as they could then match any offer he receives.
Either way, Chicago has an ideal path if they are interested in pairing the 24-year-old with Matas Buzelis. With the Bulls not likely to re-sign an aging Vucevic, Kessler would be an ideal replacement as the Bulls continue their rebuild.
