IND/UTA/LAL

[Daddy 801]

Not many players are worth 3 unprotected 1sts. Walker Kessler is absolutely not one of them. Wild that we've allowed his valuation to get this high on this board. Shows what a media manipulating genius Danny Ainge is that he has most of a fanbase believing the 20th best center in the league who wouldn't be in a playoff closing lineup for most teams is worth multiple premium assets.

I can only imagine how Utah fans would feel if they didn't have Kessler and were asked to pay this kind of price for Mark Williams or Ware or Lively or Missi. They would correctly laugh long and loudly.

TBF, Danny will absolutely ask for 3 unprotected firsts.

No one should pay that, but he will ask.

I was going to post the same thing you just said. Ainge can ask, it doesn’t mean someone will or should pay.

I also think he might do the trade for less than three unprotected picks. But there is a very large gap between LA un protecting the 27 pick and two protected picks and three unprotected picks.

Would have to know the exact years of the picks and the exact protections to know if it’s something that Utah might accept.

[kobe_vs_jordan]

Not many players are worth 3 unprotected 1sts. Walker Kessler is absolutely not one of them. Wild that we've allowed his valuation to get this high on this board. Shows what a media manipulating genius Danny Ainge is that he has most of a fanbase believing the 20th best center in the league who wouldn't be in a playoff closing lineup for most teams is worth multiple premium assets.

I can only imagine how Utah fans would feel if they didn't have Kessler and were asked to pay this kind of price for Mark Williams or Ware or Lively or Missi. They would correctly laugh long and loudly.

TBF, Danny will absolutely ask for 3 unprotected firsts.

No one should pay that, but he will ask.

Agreed. Unprotecting 2027 and sending 2029, IMO unprotected, is about right on value. Now, maybe LA shouldn't pay that, and maybe Utah likes Kessler enough not to accept a fair offer, but to me that's relatively fair for a player of Kessler's caliber who is still on a rookie deal.

I’ll do it if lakers net sexton and walker. Probably could talk me into a pick swap too as sweetener lol

Jazz probably counter with clarkson and walker and trade idea probably dies there

[babyjax13]

TBF, Danny will absolutely ask for 3 unprotected firsts.

No one should pay that, but he will ask.

Agreed. Unprotecting 2027 and sending 2029, IMO unprotected, is about right on value. Now, maybe LA shouldn't pay that, and maybe Utah likes Kessler enough not to accept a fair offer, but to me that's relatively fair for a player of Kessler's caliber who is still on a rookie deal.

I’ll do it if lakers net sexton and walker. Probably could talk me into a pick swap too as sweetener lol

Jazz probably counter with clarkson and walker and trade idea probably dies there

If the 2028 swap is offered I'd add Sexton if I were going to pull the trigger on Kessler. I think that's fair value.

[scoobs07]

No from Utah. Unprotect the 2029 FRP for starters.

Am I missing something? You wouldn't trade Walker Kessler for 3 first round picks (1 of which is a 2027 LAL unprotected)?

The Jazz own the 2027 LAL FRP if it falls 5-30. It's been discussed among Jazz and Laker fans multiple times on this board that unprotecting the top four spots has an equivalent worth of a lower FRP; the 2025 CLE FRP was agreed upon as a fair exchange by posters on both sides. (Not saying that's absolute consensus, but it was generally accepted.)

So yes, the 2029 LAL FRP unprotected in addition to that is a reasonable expectation, imo. The Indy pick is currently in the 20s; I'd forgo that for the added upside on the LAL pick.

And I'll continue to state that I'm in the "Do not trade Kessler" camp. He is—not he projects to be, but he is right now—an elite defender (at the rim and in space), rim finisher, rebounder (both ends). The best that a rebuilding team can do is to identify the keepers and hang on to them.

Utah has some flexibility with the plethora of picks that they have (even after the Phoenix trade). Look at the 2025 draft for example. The Cavs have the best record of the three picks, so it is projected to go to Phoenix. The Wolves pick is currently projected to be a mid-first. Maybe if the Jazz still want to consolidate picks, they could include the Wolves pick to balance things out? Hear me out. If Ainge is negotiating with the Lakers, and he insists on the Lakers including the 2029 and 2031 picks unprotected, along with the protection being removed from the 2027 1st, perhaps the inclusion of that Wolves 1st would help make the deal more acceptable for the Lakers. Just a thought.

[Karmaloop]

The Jazz own the 2027 LAL FRP if it falls 5-30. It's been discussed among Jazz and Laker fans multiple times on this board that unprotecting the top four spots has an equivalent worth of a lower FRP; the 2025 CLE FRP was agreed upon as a fair exchange by posters on both sides. (Not saying that's absolute consensus, but it was generally accepted.)

So yes, the 2029 LAL FRP unprotected in addition to that is a reasonable expectation, imo. The Indy pick is currently in the 20s; I'd forgo that for the added upside on the LAL pick.

And I'll continue to state that I'm in the "Do not trade Kessler" camp. He is—not he projects to be, but he is right now—an elite defender (at the rim and in space), rim finisher, rebounder (both ends). The best that a rebuilding team can do is to identify the keepers and hang on to them.

I definitely wouldn't agree at all, especially in a post-LeBron era. If my choice is a late FRP this year or a future unprotected pick, the unprotected is insanely more valuable unless you're talking about a ridiculously deep draft. That or you can reasonably assume that the future pick probably doesn't carry much in the way of upside. Not to mention, we just saw Phoenix who was desperate for pick flexibility trade their future FRP for 3 (likely) late FRPs. So, no unprotecting that pick isn't worth a single (likely) late FRP. Kessler is a nice player, but he's not an impact player.

[nykballa2k4]

IND in: Walker Kessler and Rui Hachimura
UTA in: Jalen Hood Schifino, unprotect 2027 LAL FRP, 2029 lightly protected LAL FRP, 2025 lightly protected IND FRP
LAL in: Myles Turner

IND trades a FRP and an expiring Turner for a young anchor big that can improve their defense, play in transition and most importantly fits their timeline. Rui also helps as a versatile 4 if they decide to move on from Obi. If not, they can flip Rui for value.

UTA cashes in on Kessler by receiving two FRPs and having their LAL pick unprotected.

LAL trade Rui and draft capital for a spacing big that can play alongside AD.

LAL is getting way too much here.

Jazz are still getting too much, but that's the asking price for WK.
Pacers don't want to pay 30+M for Turner (says some rival owner, fake source), so they are going to pay 17M for Rui next year (who they don't need) and have to extend Kessler anyhow? So pay MORE next year for inferior basketball product. No sense whatsoever.