Kings falter into trade deadline, Houston and Jazz have fun

[tcheco]

Lets just pretend that Kings got to 10 wins at the trade deadline. They decide to just tear down and decide that this current iteration needs a rebuild.

Kings trade
Dennis Schroder
Sabonis
Eubanks

Kings get:
Sheppard
Kessler
Capela
Kyle Anderson/Niang
2027 LAL first(1-4 protected)
2028 Jazz First(Swap right with Cavs)

Jazz trade
Kessler
Nurkic
Love
Kyle Anderson/Niang

Jazz get:
Sabonis
Eubanks

Houston Trade
Sheppard
Capela

Houston get
Dennis Schroder
Kevin Love

Why for Kings: They decide to go for a clean slate(almost) Sabonis for Kessler and 2 picks + filler. Dennis For Sheppard. I would add that they trade Monk for Rui Hachimura for fit trying to convince Rui to extend being one of the leaders, being a good fit. I would add Derozan for Rozier(bought out) and a few seconds, in order to clear more money next year. Lavine is harder to move because of his money and not many teams in need of a SG like him at that price.

Kings going forward
Sheppard/Carter/Ellis
Lavine/Ellis
Keegan/Nique
Hachimura/Top5 pick 2026
Kessler/Capela

Why for Rockets: If at the deadline they feel like a PG is needed, they get a cost controlled player in Dennis at the cost of Sheppard, both locked in for the same ammount of years. Dennis slides in as PG

Why for Jazz: See an opportunity to accelerate their rebuild, IF they believe they can keep resting people to not hurt their odds at a good pick. They add a perferct player to operate with the current team in my view.

Jazz going forward:
George/Collier
Ace/Top5 pick/Cody Williams
Lauri/Sensabaugh
Hendricks/Filipowski
Sabonis/Eubanks


My original trade was Keyonte to Houston for Tate, Green and a first, with the first going to the Kings, but Dennis fits better on what the Rockets needs I believe.

Does Kings need more?

[babyjax13]

We aren't going to trade to improve this season. In the offseason? I could see that, but certainly not now. We would lose our draft pick to OKC, most likely, so you have to look at this as Kessler, 2026 UTA 1st, 2027 LAL 1st, 2028 UTA 1st for Sabonis which is way too much.

[SkyHook]

We aren't going to trade to improve this season. In the offseason? I could see that, but certainly not now. We would lose our draft pick to OKC, most likely, so you have to look at this as Kessler, 2026 UTA 1st, 2027 LAL 1st, 2028 UTA 1st for Sabonis which is way too much.

I've been a big fan of Sabonis and others will see this differently, but even without the picks I don't know that I trade Kessler for him at this point. Walker is 5+ years younger and their overall impact in terms of DPM and xRAPM is about as close as it gets. (And at the 5 spot I'm personally going to lean towards the better defender.) My guess is that Kessler will sign for about $30MM +/-AAV which will be around 2/3 of Sabonis's AAV for the following two seasons; unless the cap surges by an unrealistic amount (17%+), even his max will still be less money. Utah also has—at their discretion—the ability to keep him under contract for three years longer.

[bkohler]

I keep seeing people making trades, sending Sabonis to Utah, and I just don't get it. He should be going to a contender to be their third-best player, just like Lauri.

[LarsV8]

Not interested in Shroder.

[PistolPeteJR]

Houston isn't trading Sheppard for Schroder.

[Jazz Dog]

Jazz are not trading Kessler unless it is Rudy Gobert type return. Kessler is close to untouchable at this moment.

[Texas Chuck]

Jazz are not trading Kessler unless it is Rudy Gobert type return. Kessler is close to untouchable at this moment.

Untouchable players get extensions done. Because if a guy is truly untouchable, well you don't mind if you have to max him. They didn't want to pay him much less than that.

I get it. We love our guys and game 1 went great. But we overuse untouchable. Luka Doncic got traded. For AD. Or if you need a more apples to apples -- James Harden got traded after he didn't get an extension done off his rookie deal. Kessler can be traded.

[SkyHook]

Jazz are not trading Kessler unless it is Rudy Gobert type return. Kessler is close to untouchable at this moment.

Untouchable players get extensions done. Because if a guy is truly untouchable, well you don't mind if you have to max him. They didn't want to pay him much less than that.

I get it. We love our guys and game 1 went great. But we overuse untouchable. Luka Doncic got traded. For AD. Or if you need a more apples to apples -- James Harden got traded after he didn't get an extension done off his rookie deal. Kessler can be traded.

Kessler is not untouchable. The Jazz have been explicit in stating that no players are. It has also been reported that the lack of an extension for Kessler now has more to do with timing than their desire (or lack thereof) to keep him long term; Utah is maintaining cap space next summer and any extension for Kessler in excess of his cap hold would eat into that. Others can debate whether that's spin, but to me it seems like the most logical option.

As I said in the Jazz forum, if Kessler earns a $40MM AAV contract with his play this season I have no problem with that. I doubt that the Jazz would either as long as they can utilize their cap space before doing so.

[bkohler]

Jazz are not trading Kessler unless it is Rudy Gobert type return. Kessler is close to untouchable at this moment.

Untouchable players get extensions done. Because if a guy is truly untouchable, well you don't mind if you have to max him. They didn't want to pay him much less than that.

I get it. We love our guys and game 1 went great. But we overuse untouchable. Luka Doncic got traded. For AD. Or if you need a more apples to apples -- James Harden got traded after he didn't get an extension done off his rookie deal. Kessler can be traded.

Kessler is not untouchable. The Jazz have been explicit in stating that no players are. It has also been reported that the lack of an extension for Kessler now has more to do with timing than their desire (or lack thereof) to keep him long term; Utah is maintaining cap space next summer and any extension for Kessler in excess of his cap hold would eat into that. Others can debate whether that's spin, but to me it seems like the most logical option.

As I said in the Jazz forum, if Kessler earns a $40MM AAV contract with his play this season I have no problem with that. I doubt that the Jazz would either as long as they can utilize their cap space before doing so.

From the Jazz perspective him playing his way to a 40M is ideal. We’d rather have someone clearly worth that money than someone who’s a bit in the fence at a lower price point.

[LightTheBeam]

I still like Sabonis to Charlotte more. But Dallas and Houston should absolutely be calling for Schroder, hes a solid player.

[Jazz Dog]

Texas Chuck, I obviously used the term untouchable a little casual earlier. Every player for the right price is tradeable like you stated. The Jazz did not sign an extension because they don't like him. They wanted to use the extra cap room to go big game hunting as Ainge puts it. Kessler was great last night, but the Jazz already know this.

Let me change my wording so it is not misconstrued. The Jazz will not include or trade Kessler for any aging veteran like Sabonis. They will trade him for younger assets and picks with no lottery protections attached. They consider him a very important part of the rebuild. Now if they get offered an SGA type player in exchanged, they will make that trade.

[AingesBurner]

If Wednesdays game is Kessler for the rest of the season, good luck trying to get him without an absolute godfather offer.

[tcheco]

If Wednesdays game is Kessler for the rest of the season, good luck trying to get him without an absolute godfather offer.

I hope he does keep it up. If Sabonis keep his non play from last game, he will retire(dnp lol)