Lakers go all in (LAL/NOP/Utah)

[SkyHook]

Yeah Davis struggles against Jokic, Lakers are looking to improve that.

Kessler doesn't help that so it's not worth spending FRPs on him.

Lakers dar better going for a big body player that can hit 3s like Vucevic or Olynyk.

Outside of the occasional outlying performance, it's rare to find a center who doesn't struggle vs Jokic.

I agree that the Lakers should focus on more appropriate targets. Though he hasn't looked great so far this season, I think that Olynyk would be an interesting fit in LA.

Yeah Olynyk makes most sense. Doesn't need an FRP to acquire so lakers don't go all in on the upgrade.

It's a signature Pelinka move.

[kobe_vs_jordan]

22 rebounds. 7 offensive.

Rebounding a team effort? Kessler is suppose to contest the shot and box out at the same time? Maybe one of those offensive rebounds were on Kessler not boxing out.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=OREB&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022400445&PlayerID=203999&RangeType=0&Season=2024-25&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612743&flag=1&sct=plot&section=game

Point is that it's not worth it at all for the Lakers to add a defensive big because they can't stop Jokic anyway. That is not how they will beat the Nuggets. It's not worth FRPs to the Lakers.

Size down low and offense is how they beat the Nuggets.

Lakers don’t have assets for a big that could stop Joker. On top of there is no big in the league that stops joker.

[SkyHook]

Rebounding a team effort? Kessler is suppose to contest the shot and box out at the same time? Maybe one of those offensive rebounds were on Kessler not boxing out.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=OREB&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022400445&PlayerID=203999&RangeType=0&Season=2024-25&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612743&flag=1&sct=plot&section=game

Point is that it's not worth it at all for the Lakers to add a defensive big because they can't stop Jokic anyway. That is not how they will beat the Nuggets. It's not worth FRPs to the Lakers.

Size down low and offense is how they beat the Nuggets.

Lakers don’t have assets for a big that could stop Joker. On top of there is no big in the league that stops joker.

And there's the TLDR for the entire thread.

[SlimShady83]

And there's the TLDR for the entire thread.

To break It down for you, basically most of us here want and/or expect Kessler to traded to Lakers, Zimpy and maybe 1 or 2 others, say It's not worth going after Kessler because It will cost the 2 pics and he can't guard Jokic and got wrecked by him, so not worth going after because of 1 player. But again If you combine Kessler/AD block party right there, will make It damn tough.

All In on Kessler for me.

[dcstanley]

22 rebounds. 7 offensive.

The two other games they've played against each other this season:

Jokic had 10 rebounds, Kessler had 12 rebounds
Jokic had 16 rebounds, Kessler had 14 rebounds

Jokic had a couple of buckets last night off of tip ins from his own misses after Kessler forced a miss and his teammates didn't crash. He did a good job on him.

Precisely.

Kessler did a good job and it meant nothing. Jokic was +22 and was everywhere, put up one of his biggest Game scores of the year.

Lakers would be moronic to spend FRPs on a position that doesn't help much to stop Jokic while stalling their offense. They give themselves less of a chance.

Read on Twitter

There's a difference between being flanked by Juzang, Sexton, George, and Markannen vs. AD, DFS, LBJ, Rui, Reaves, Christie. The Jazz lost because they're a subpar team but Kessler had a good showing as an individual defender holding Jokic to his lowest TS% on the season.

There's a lot of value in a rim protecting big that can defend the post and is versatile enough to adequately defend on the perimeter. He juices the Lakers defense more than any other center on the market and provides more size and versatility in a league where size and versatility is king. If the goal is to compete this season, I would prefer to spend more on a young player that grades out as well as Kessler does than penny-pinch and spend seconds on a significantly inferior option that would be lucky to play 10-15 MPG in the playoffs.

[Cappy_Smurf]

Jokic just destroyed Kessler and any chance of a trade where Lakers give an FRP for Kessler.

Lmao.

There isn't a player in this league that Jokic couldn't destroy when he's playing well. Kind of a ridiculous bar to hold over somebody, not to mention that single games should never be used to evaluate a player's trade value.

It's all good though, as I don't believe Utah wants to trade Kessler at all, anyway. The Lakers should look elsewhere.