Help Solve Kessler to the Lakers

[Karmaloop]

Why is everyone assuming Kessler is a backup? He’d be starting in LA or Utah.

Because he came off the bench more games than he started, and even in the games he started he averaged less than 26 MPG. Him being a "startling caliber" center for the Lakers is more an indictment of the Lakers' current big men than Kessler himself. And if he was this great center, he would have started more than 22 games last year.

[AingesBurner]

Why is everyone assuming Kessler is a backup? He’d be starting in LA or Utah.

Because he came off the bench more games than he started, and even in the games he started he averaged less than 26 MPG. Him being a "startling caliber" center for the Lakers is more an indictment of the Lakers' current big men than Kessler himself. And if he was this great center, he would have started more than 22 games last year.

That has more to do with building value in Collins as a flippable asset.

[Karmaloop]

That has more to do with building value in Collins as a flippable asset.

Either the Jazz are the most incompetent franchise (they're not fwiw) for prioritizing trying to break even on a guy like John Collins over maximizing the value on a guy like Kessler OR the Jazz aren't nearly as high on him as Jazz fans are. My guess is the latter.

[jazzfan1971]

That has more to do with building value in Collins as a flippable asset.

Either the Jazz are the most incompetent franchise (they're not fwiw) for prioritizing trying to break even on a guy like John Collins over maximizing the value on a guy like Kessler OR the Jazz aren't nearly as high on him as Jazz fans are. My guess is the latter.

My unsubstantiated guess is that Hardy didn't love his work ethic and decided to make him earn minutes. Also unsubstantiated, I don't think Kessler responded to that challenge in the way Hardy was hoping. Instead of working twice as hard to earn his spot back he sulked. This sulking was pretty evident to me watching his body language change from year 1 to year 2.

I'm only guessing here, but I think this was mostly a problem between Hardy and Kessler. Less so about Collins.

I think if Kessler doesn't come back ready to work harder than he has ever had to work that the Jazz may decide to ship him out.

I'm hoping he rises to the challenge and forces Hardy to play him (exactly like Hardy intended) but if he decides to keep sulking, maybe a new situation would benefit everyone as Hardy will have failed badly.

[meat tray]

There’s also a locker room management aspect to this as well. Collins is a veteran and was the highest paid player on the team.

Remember, this is the same org that gave THT the starting nod to not piss off Rich Paul.

[zimpy27]

Lauri and Kessler didn't work so well together, I think that has something to do with Kessler being shipped. I don't expect Kessler gone if Lauri is traded.

[babyjax13]

Lauri and Kessler didn't work so well together, I think that has something to do with Kessler being shipped. I don't expect Kessler gone if Lauri is traded.

Kessler and Lauri were fine together. Lauri and Collins were fine together. Lauri, Collins, and Kessler together really did not work. There is just not enough on-ball creation with three guys who can't be primary ballhandlers on the floor. Lauri can attack mismatches and bent defenses, but he's not exactly SGA. Collins can dribble enough to move to a handoff or turn the corner if a defender is sleeping, but that's it. Kessler can't create with the ball. The three of them together just murdered our ability to create good shots.