Jazz’s Austin Ainge: Lakers’ offer changed mind on Walker Kessler

The Jazz did not enter the summer determined to trade Walker Kessler. According to team president Austin Ainge, they expected to keep him.

Then the Lakers made an offer Utah decided it could not pass up.

“We were planning on keeping him. But that [trade] offer got high enough,” Ainge said in an interview with JP Chunga and Eric Spyropoulos, as relayed by Jared Koch of Jazz On SI. The Jazz believed moving Kessler was the right choice for their long-term plans.

The return was substantial. It consisted of unprotected Lakers first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, plus the right to swap first-rounders in 2028 and 2030. Kessler signed a four-year, $130 million deal with Los Angeles as part of the sign-and-trade.

Ainge said Utah had discussed the possibility of moving Kessler off and on for about a year. Discussion is one thing. Giving up a young center who anchors your defense is another, particularly when you still need someone to fill that role.

That is the immediate cost of the deal. The Jazz have more picks and more financial flexibility, but Kessler will be playing for the Lakers this season.

Ainge said the team does not yet know when or how it will use the picks. He believes Utah has good players already and wants to see where the roster needs help as the season unfolds.

So the Jazz made a bet: The Lakers’ future picks, and whatever they eventually become, will do more for Utah than keeping Kessler would have. It may take years to know whether they were right.