Jazz can rest easy knowing Walker Kessler saga could have been worse than Jalen Duren

Matt John of The J-Notes argues that the Utah Jazz avoided a major crisis by not mirroring the Detroit Pistons' drawn-out contract negotiations with Jalen Duren. Duren recently agreed to a five-year, $200 million contract extension with Detroit after prolonged talks, securing his long-term future with the franchise.

The writer claims that playing hardball with Walker Kessler would have resulted in Kessler taking his qualifying offer and leaving Utah in free agency. John suggests dragging out negotiations would have disrupted the locker room and damaged team chemistry ahead of a crucial season.