babyjax13 wrote:Watching the preseason, I am way more open to moving Kessler. I think having a ball mover at center is really beneficial for Ace. He is playing really well with Nurkic, and I think some small-ball 5 minutes with Filipowski and Love would also work well for him. We'd have a really fun offense and absolutely no defense at all, lose a ton of games, but really get to see which young players are long-term keepers.
Pelicans get Kessler to bolster their playoff chances/ stay out of the lottery. They've negotiated a 4 yr./$100m extension that can only be given before the regular season. They would need to find a way to dump Murray's contract for an expiring (HOU? MIA?). Jazz want to cash in and start season with a clean-slate/ball-moving Centers.
Jazz get: Missi + Rozier (waive) + ___ pick/swap capital via NOP
Pels get: Kessler (extended) + K. Anderson + Niang + Fonteccio
Heat get: D. Murray + Hawkins + 2nd(s) via NOP
Jazz get a younger rim running replacement in Missi who can grow in a bench role, has shown flashes on offense. The draft compensation can be 2027 swap with NOP/MIL and worst of Utah's 2027 LAL/CLE/UTA/MIN 1st (lowest not conveyed to Phoenix)? One future first 2028 or beyond could be in play, but should have protections. The Rozier / Anderson/Niang inclusion isn't ideal from the Jazz's vet roster building- but they do it to help facilitate the deal. They could keep Rozier as a trade chip until the deadline or waive him immediately.
Pels build a top defense around Kessler and Herb, and hope the Zion, Murphy, Poole trio can lead a respectable offense, with Bey, Alvarado, Fears, Queen and the new vets contributing. No lotto pick to ATL!
Heat strike early on getting a starting vet PG who could thrive in their system, with enough breathing room in the East to add Murray back in January and reinforce a playoff run. (This probably is the most unrealistic part of the mock trade, with teams probably waiting until Murray is back playing to consider trading for him. Also, Heat have been reluctant to take on long term money for non-star players).
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Jazz:
Nurkic/ Missi
Lauri/ Filipowski
Hendricks/ Brice/ Cody
Bailey/ George/ Svi
Clayton/ Collier
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Pels:
Kessler/ Looney/ Matkovic
Zion/ Queen/ Niang
Trey/ Fonteccio/ Anderson
Herb/ Bey/ Peavy
Poole/ Jose/ Fears
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Heat:
Ware/ Jovic
Bam/ Jaquez
Wiggins/ Powell
Herro/ Kasparas/ Hawkins
Murray/ Davion
