Behind the Scenes of Summer: Free Agency, Summer League, and the New Jazz

The Big Drama: Will Walker Kessler Leave the Jazz?

NBA free agency — that crazy time when players can change teams — is about to open, and one name has everyone talking about Utah: Walker Kessler.

Kessler is a tall, talented center (the big guy who plays near the basket) and he’s one of the hottest prizes on the market this year. He’s a restricted free agent, which means — even if another team wants him — the Utah Jazz have the right to say, "We’ll pay him the same thing, and he stays right here."

The Lakers Are the Main Team Wanting Kessler

The Los Angeles Lakers are the biggest team trying to recruit Walker Kessler away from Utah. But here’s the catch: the Lakers can’t even offer him an official deal for a whole week!

Why? Because of a special waiting period:

1. Until July 6, Kessler can’t really receive a formal offer from anyone else.
2. Once a rival team (the Lakers) finally can offer him an official contract (called an offer sheet), the Jazz would have a day and a half (48 hours) to decide: "Yes, we’ll match their offer!" or "Nope, you can go."

So the Lakers have to prepare to tie up more than $30 million in salary cap space for potentially 8 days while just waiting around. During that time, other teams are scooping up available players, and the Lakers might miss out.

What’s Happening With Other Teams?

• Chicago Bulls & Brooklyn Nets: These teams were maybe interested in Kessler, but just made a big trade sending Nic Claxton to Chicago, essentially pulling out. Meanwhile, Brooklyn re-signed their own big man, Day’Ron Sharpe, to a new contract, taking themselves out of the picture.
• That leaves the Lakers — still interested, but facing rules that make their pursuit a big gamble.

Important: Until July 6, no team can officially offer Kessler a contract. So right now, all the talk is just talk and handshakes behind the scenes.

Things the Jazz Already Have Going For Them

• The Jazz have already offered Kessler a five-year deal worth $137.5 million — that’s a lot of money! This deal is still on the table, and both sides can still negotiate the details (like how the money is paid out over the years).
• Kessler is said to lean toward staying in Utah — why? Because the money is there, and he’s already comfortable with the team.

A Possible Side Door: The Sign-and-Trade?

One way the Lakers could get Kessler is a sign-and-trade — a backstage deal where the Jazz would agree to send Kessler to L.A. in exchange for other players or draft picks. But as of right now, the two teams aren’t even talking about this. It sounds like everyone might just stick with the status quo.

The Bottom Line on Kessler

All eyes will be on the Lakers’ moves in the next couple of days:

• One sign they’re going after Kessler would be if they let some of their own players go (like LeBron James or Rui Hachimura) to free up money.
• But until July 6, anything is just speculation.

Most likely? Kessler stays with the Jazz this whole time. But until it’s settled, Jazz fans will be on the edge of their seats.

Summer League: The First Glimpse at the Future

While the big drama plays out behind the scenes, there’s something fun happening on the court this weekend: the Salt Lake City Summer League tips off Saturday!

This is where new and young players get to show what they can do without the pressure of the regular season. And this year, the huge headliner is Darryn Peterson, a kid the Jazz fans have been talking about for years.

Meet Darryn Peterson — The New Kid Coming to Town

Darryn Peterson is one of the most exciting rookies in Jazz history. On Friday night, he’s set to play his first NBA-ing league game in a new Jazz jersey at the Huntsman Center (that big arena on the University of Utah campus).

• And get this: Peterson chose to wear jersey number 22, which was previously worn by Kyle Filipowski. Peterson gave a press conference talking about how much it meant to him to get the number from Filipowski personally.

What the Rest of the Summer League Roster Looks Like

The Jazz will have some familiar names joining Peterson:

• Ace Bailey — the Jazz’s 5th overall pick from last year (one of the young wings)
• Cody Williams — the 10th overall pick from 2024 — another young wing who’s been spending a lot of time at the Jazz practice facility this offseason, determined to make a real career in the NBA

It’s not clear yet whether Ace and Cody will play in both the Salt Lake City Summer League and the upcoming Las Vegas event, but expect to see them on the court this weekend.

Two Sharpshooters Signed to Two-Way Contracts

• Blake Hinson — a player who’s been working extremely hard this offseason. He’s shed about 20 pounds (!) and was hitting nearly 50% of his three-point shots last season. He’s training in Utah this summer with teammates.
• Tamar Bates — another two-way signing who spent last season with the Denver Nuggets but hasn’t actually played in an NBA game yet. A chance to finally prove himself.

Other Young Players in the Mix

• Micah Handlogten — a rookie big man and the son of former Jazz player Ben Handlogten. He puts the "local kid" twist into the story since he’s already part of the extended Jazz family.
• Jaxon Kohler — a big man from Michigan State University.
• Bez Mbeng and Hayden Gray — second-year guards who’ve been running drills with the veterans and will both join the Summer League squad.

Keyonte George Takes a Leadership Role

While all this excitement around the new kids happens, Keyonte George — now in his fourth year with the Jazz — is showing everyone that he’s matured into a genuine leader.

• On Peterson’s very first night in Utah, George took him out to dinner. Isn’t that nice?
• George was front and row at Peterson’s press conference — showing he’s got the new guy’s back.
• George also spent a lot of this offseason in Utah, working to get better and being a mentor.

After being with the Jazz since being drafted, George has become a true basketball junkie:

• He attended pre-draft workouts and the NBA Combine (that big testing event for rookies)
• He represented the Jazz at the draft lottery (the random drawing that determines draft order)
• He’s been very visible in the locker room and community

Jazz fans should keep an eye on him — he’s clearly supposed to be a part of the team’s core.

FAQ

1. What is a "restricted free agent"?
A restricted free agent is a player who can receive offers from other teams, but their original team has the right to match that offer and keep the player. Think of it like: "Anybody can try to buy us a toy, but we get to say, ‘We’ll buy it for the same price!’" In Kessler’s case, the Jazz have the right to say yes to any big offer from another team like the Lakers.

2. Why does the Lakers’ pursuit of Walker Kessler have to wait until July 6?
The NBA has a moratorium — a cooling-off period — where no official offers or contracts can happen. Until July 6, the Lakers and Kessler can only talk behind the scenes. After that, they can finally present an official offer sheet to him.

3. What’s "cap space" — why does it matter?
The salary "cap" is like a strict spending limit for NBA teams. When a team signs a player, that player’s salary takes up space under the cap — just like putting items into a backpack until it’s full. The Lakers need to clear out enough space in their "backpack" to fit a Kessler-sized contract, which is why they might need to let other players go.

4. What’s a "sign-and-trade"?
It’s a sneaky workaround to help a player go to a new team even when his old team can refuse. Instead of losing the player for nothing, the Jazz would say, "Okay, you can have Kessler — but you have to give us something in return, like other players, draft picks, or future considerations."

5. When does the Jazz Summer League start?
The Utah Jazz’s 2026 Summer League opens Saturday at the Huntsman Center on the University of Utah campus! Games begin against the Atlanta Hawks. Set your alarms, grab some snacks, and get ready to see the future of Jazz basketball!

In Summary

This week is wild for Utah Jazz fans. The biggest story is Walker Kessler’s restricted free agent situation, which could see him heading to the Lakers by July — but the Jazz are well-positioned to match any offer and keep him in Salt Lake City. Meanwhile, the Summer League kicks off Saturday, giving fans their first real look at hype rookie Darryn Peterson, plus a bunch of young, hungry players trying to break onto the roster. And don’t forget about Keyonte George, who is growing into a veteran presence and mentor role, welcoming new teammates and preparing for a bigger role in 2026-27. Buckle up, Jazz fans — it’s going to be an exciting summer!