The Utah Jazz pressed the reset button last offseason with a variety of moves, including shipping Rudy Gobert off to Minnesota. Following the trade of the defensive star, it was clear Utah would be lacking a defensive presence in the paint.
Fortunately for Utah, the Jazz found a gem in former first-round pick Walker Kessler.
Walker Kessler’s development could be an X-Factor for the Jazz
Walker Kessler finished his rookie campaign averaging 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and just under one assist per game, shooting 72.0% from the floor through 74 games. Aside from the seven-footer’s impressive offensive game, Kessler proved to be the organization’s new defensive anchor, averaging 2.