The Chicago Bulls have begun shaping their future on the perimeter. Josh Giddey signed a four-year, $100 million contract, Matas Buzelis is expected to take a leap in his second season, and Coby White enters the final year of his deal with plenty to prove.
However, the big question mark lies in the interior, where one name has emerged as a potential game-changer: Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler. At 24 years old, he is viewed as a top target for Chicago heading into his restricted free agency in 2026.
Standing nearly seven feet tall with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, Kessler already has the profile of a defensive anchor. In three seasons, he has averaged 2.4 blocks across 196 games. Last year, in 58 appearances, he put up 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks, placing him among the league’s best young rim protectors.
For the Bulls, the need is obvious. With Giddey orchestrating the offense, White contributing scoring, and Buzelis providing size and versatility on the perimeter, a player like Kessler would complete the equation as a rebounder and rim protector. His presence would bring natural balance to the core on both ends of the floor.
Nikola Vucevic has been reliable, but at nearly 35 years old he no longer represents a long-term solution, and his exit from Chicago seems imminent. Zach Collins fits better as a backup, while young players like Jalen Smith and Lachlan Olbrich project more as rotation pieces than permanent starters.
Kessler would immediately raise the franchise’s ceiling. Though still not a finished product offensively, his ability to protect the paint and dominate the boards would free up perimeter players to maximize their strengths.
The key detail is that Utah and Kessler failed to agree on a rookie extension, which will send him into restricted free agency in 2026. That timing aligns perfectly with when the Bulls are projected to have more cap space than any other team, giving them leverage to pressure the Jazz into a difficult position.
After navigating a tough negotiation with Giddey this summer, Chicago’s front office knows how complicated these situations can be. The difference here is that they would have the advantage.
For now, Kessler remains with Utah, but his future is wide open. If he reaches the market next summer, Chicago would have the need, the resources, and the cap flexibility to make a move. With a young core developing and a glaring hole in the paint, signing him could mark a turning point in the direction of the franchise.
