The Utah Jazz are reportedly not eager to part ways with third-rounder Walker Kessler before the NBA trade deadline on February 6th.

According to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles TimesSeveral teams have expressed interest in Kessler, including the Los Angeles Lakers, but the league believes Kessler is “not available in any realistic trade scenario.”

The 23-year-old Kessler was selected 22nd overall in the 2022 NBA Draft out of Auburn but was traded just two weeks after the draft.

Utah acquired Kessler, four first-round picks and several other players in the blockbuster deal that sent star center Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The 7-footer exceeded expectations as a rookie, averaging 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game and shooting 72.0 percent from the field, which ranked him third in voting Rookie of the Year earned.

Kessler’s production dipped slightly last season to 8.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per contest, but he has rebounded significantly so far in the 2024-25 season.

In 27 games this season, Kessler has career averages of 10.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 1.7 assists, while also making a remarkable 71.2 percent of his shot attempts.

Despite Kessler’s strong play, the Jazz have the second-worst record in the Western Conference at 8-25 and don’t appear to be particularly close to contending for the playoffs.

While this could potentially make them more open to trades before the deadline, it stands to reason that they would rather trade veterans like Jordan Clarkson, John Collins or Collin Sexton than arguably their best young player, Kessler.

With Kessler reportedly unavailable, the Lakers turned their attention to another deal, acquiring forward Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Shake Milton from the Brooklyn Nets last week in exchange for guard D’Angelo Russell, forward Maxwell Lewis and three second-rounders picked picks.

The move gives the Lakers more versatility around the core of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves, although they still lack a reliable big man to complement Davis, a role Kessler undoubtedly could have filled.