Because they can, OKC buys luxury Jazz

[cgf]

That's the package I really hope they don't pursue because it would address their biggest problems. Sexton in the non-SGA minutes would be huge, and adding Kessler to Chet & iHart would answer their problems with size.

[nate33]

I don't like this for OKC at all. They don't need to invest major assets in another center. Kessler wouldn't even play once Chet gets back. A much smaller trade for just Sexton makes some sense, but it's hard to find many minutes in the backcourt with SGA, Dort, Wallace and Caruso already there.

Honestly, I think if OKC is going to invest a bunch of picks into a player, they ought to go for a genuine star at a forward position - maybe a guy like Durant or Butler. OKC has the luxury of limiting the minutes for those guys in the regular season, and then dusting them off for the playoffs. Of course, matching salaries would be difficult.

[Daddy 801]

I don't like this for OKC at all. They don't need to invest major assets in another center. Kessler wouldn't even play once Chet gets back. A much smaller trade for just Sexton makes some sense, but it's hard to find many minutes in the backcourt with SGA, Dort, Wallace and Caruso already there.

Honestly, I think if OKC is going to invest a bunch of picks into a player, they ought to go for a genuine star at a forward position - maybe a guy like Durant or Butler. OKC has the luxury of limiting the minutes for those guys in the regular season, and then dusting them off for the playoffs. Of course, matching salaries would be difficult.

I think Butler would be a mistake and mess up their chemistry. But he may also help them win a title this year and be a one year rental which would be worth it. Hard decision. But if Butler can be had for cheap it may be worth it.

This is one of the better offers I have seen for Kessler. Still not sure Ainge bites though. The protections on the picks devalue them. And I don’t think Utah is worried about not being in the bottom 10 next year so removing the protections isn’t a huge value. Utah has to tank next year as well at a minimum. Even if they get better they can just rest guys that win them games like they have done this year. Not great for the league a team can purposely do it so easy, but the Jazz have to do it.

[MoneyTalks41890]

If he was tradable I would very much be talking about Lauri right now.

[eminence]

I’d be willing to accept back slightly less from Utah (I like Topic).

View Kessler as the notably more valuable half of the Utah package.

[NYG]

I probably would but I wonder if OKC values the continuity/chemistry that comes from Kenrich and doesn’t want to mess it up. They might (right or wrong) feel like this is unnecessary as well. Kessler would obviously get minutes right now, but in a month or so, he probably rides the bench for pretty much the rest of his time in OKC

Remove Kenrich and the picks and add Dillon Jones and make it... Jones, Topic and Dieng for Sexton?

[louc1970]

I don't see how Sexton fits the guard rotation. SGA, Dort, Joe, Wallace, Wiggins, Caruso, Williams. Of course some play multiple positions, but just see Sexton as part of the jam. Another move would need to be in play.

[ConSarnit]

I don't see how Sexton fits the guard rotation. SGA, Dort, Joe, Wallace, Wiggins, Caruso, Williams. Of course some play multiple positions, but just see Sexton as part of the jam. Another move would need to be in play.

Follow up trade for Cam Johnson? Send out Wiggins + Joe. Johnson is effectively the sf/pf version of Joe. Sexton takes Wiggins minutes.

SGA
Dort
JDub
Johnson
Chet

Sexton
Wallace
Caruso
Hartenstein

Still a little guard heavy but Caruso can play the 3 at times and JDub/Johnson/Chet can all play minutes at the 4.

Sexton is sort of a luxury for OKC imo. Play him if you need to (in the playoffs) while having the option to not play him if you don't need him. I think OKC's biggest issue right now is finding a 3rd ball-handler and Sexton can fill that role for a reasonable price. Johnson is a bigger Joe which gives OKC better positional versatility.

[nykballa2k4]

Kenrich
Dieng
Topic
25 PHI 1st (top 6, top 4, top 4, 27 PHI 2nd) -- currently 8
25 UTH 1st (top 10, top 8, nothing) returned

for

Sexton
Kessler

Utah gets a likely lottery pick this year, their own pick back so if they are competitive next year no worries. Topic is an interesting prospect, Dieng still worth a look, and Williams can probably be moved for a couple 2nds if they want.

OKC could use one more big and could use another source of offense. Already the best team in the conference, but let's fill in those last two potential gaps.

Great concept, but I think a smaller move (picks for Kessler) is better/simpler.

[Texas Chuck]

Great concept, but I think a smaller move (picks for Kessler) is better/simpler.

Smaller is definitely almost always better.

My concern for OKC is they seem too dependent on SGA offensively. Williams is fine as a secondary guy because SGA is so elite but he could use another guy on the court with him with some creation skills when SGA sits. They have shooters galore but all of them dependent on someone else creating the look.

IDK. It feels a bit nitpicky for a team that good when SGA is going to play 42 mpg in the playoffs or whatever, but it also feels like they have so many assets that they can afford to get another big and another shot creator even if those guys really are the luxuries I mention in the title.

I maintain they could use both. But they might need cheaper versions of each because the big isn't going to play at all if Hart/Chet are healthy and the shot creator might only play when SGA sits unless they can hold up defensively.

IDK. They fascinate me though.

[Devilanche]

Great concept, but I think a smaller move (picks for Kessler) is better/simpler.

Smaller is definitely almost always better.

My concern for OKC is they seem too dependent on SGA offensively. Williams is fine as a secondary guy because SGA is so elite but he could use another guy on the court with him with some creation skills when SGA sits. They have shooters galore but all of them dependent on someone else creating the look.

IDK. It feels a bit nitpicky for a team that good when SGA is going to play 42 mpg in the playoffs or whatever, but it also feels like they have so many assets that they can afford to get another big and another shot creator even if those guys really are the luxuries I mention in the title.

I maintain they could use both. But they might need cheaper versions of each because the big isn't going to play at all if Hart/Chet are healthy and the shot creator might only play when SGA sits unless they can hold up defensively.

IDK. They fascinate me though.

OKC issue is salary matching .

If you remove those that are somewhat in our rotation you are left with these options-
Dieng - 5m
Kenrich - 6m ish and as much as those of us on this forum say OKC want keep him , I think Presti is much higher on him than his current production should warrant.
topic - 5m and OKC probably higher than most team on him
Dillon Jones -2.5m. Haven’t shown anything of note since drafted.
Jaylin -2m . For what he’s being paid and the current 3rd C cost , we probably can’t do better out there.


That’s our 5 most movable salary . If you want to salary match those in our rotation, you would have to make a case of adding wiggins or Joe.

[nykballa2k4]

Great concept, but I think a smaller move (picks for Kessler) is better/simpler.

Smaller is definitely almost always better.

My concern for OKC is they seem too dependent on SGA offensively. Williams is fine as a secondary guy because SGA is so elite but he could use another guy on the court with him with some creation skills when SGA sits. They have shooters galore but all of them dependent on someone else creating the look.

IDK. It feels a bit nitpicky for a team that good when SGA is going to play 42 mpg in the playoffs or whatever, but it also feels like they have so many assets that they can afford to get another big and another shot creator even if those guys really are the luxuries I mention in the title.

I maintain they could use both. But they might need cheaper versions of each because the big isn't going to play at all if Hart/Chet are healthy and the shot creator might only play when SGA sits unless they can hold up defensively.

IDK. They fascinate me though.

OKC issue is salary matching .

If you remove those that are somewhat in our rotation you are left with these options-
Dieng - 5m
Kenrich - 6m ish and as much as those of us on this forum say OKC want keep him , I think Presti is much higher on him than his current production should warrant.
topic - 5m and OKC probably higher than most team on him
Dillon Jones -2.5m. Haven’t shown anything of note since drafted.
Jaylin -2m . For what he’s being paid and the current 3rd C cost , we probably can’t do better out there.


That’s our 5 most movable salary . If you want to salary match those in our rotation, you would have to make a case of adding wiggins or Joe.

Cam Thomas from BKN?

[Devilanche]

Smaller is definitely almost always better.

My concern for OKC is they seem too dependent on SGA offensively. Williams is fine as a secondary guy because SGA is so elite but he could use another guy on the court with him with some creation skills when SGA sits. They have shooters galore but all of them dependent on someone else creating the look.

IDK. It feels a bit nitpicky for a team that good when SGA is going to play 42 mpg in the playoffs or whatever, but it also feels like they have so many assets that they can afford to get another big and another shot creator even if those guys really are the luxuries I mention in the title.

I maintain they could use both. But they might need cheaper versions of each because the big isn't going to play at all if Hart/Chet are healthy and the shot creator might only play when SGA sits unless they can hold up defensively.

IDK. They fascinate me though.

OKC issue is salary matching .

If you remove those that are somewhat in our rotation you are left with these options-
Dieng - 5m
Kenrich - 6m ish and as much as those of us on this forum say OKC want keep him , I think Presti is much higher on him than his current production should warrant.
topic - 5m and OKC probably higher than most team on him
Dillon Jones -2.5m. Haven’t shown anything of note since drafted.
Jaylin -2m . For what he’s being paid and the current 3rd C cost , we probably can’t do better out there.


That’s our 5 most movable salary . If you want to salary match those in our rotation, you would have to make a case of adding wiggins or Joe.

Cam Thomas from BKN?

If we want a guard , sexton is the better target.

[nykballa2k4]

OKC issue is salary matching .

If you remove those that are somewhat in our rotation you are left with these options-
Dieng - 5m
Kenrich - 6m ish and as much as those of us on this forum say OKC want keep him , I think Presti is much higher on him than his current production should warrant.
topic - 5m and OKC probably higher than most team on him
Dillon Jones -2.5m. Haven’t shown anything of note since drafted.
Jaylin -2m . For what he’s being paid and the current 3rd C cost , we probably can’t do better out there.


That’s our 5 most movable salary . If you want to salary match those in our rotation, you would have to make a case of adding wiggins or Joe.

Cam Thomas from BKN?

If we want a guard , sexton is the better target.

Eh... 4M is a nice tight number and if it's just for the purpose off self-starting offense if something happens to Shai... then it's a very low cost weapon on the bench. But Sexton is obviously more tested.

[Devilanche]

Cam Thomas from BKN?

If we want a guard , sexton is the better target.

Eh... 4M is a nice tight number and if it's just for the purpose off self-starting offense if something happens to Shai... then it's a very low cost weapon on the bench. But Sexton is obviously more tested.

I think cost wise will be very similar in terms of draft asset but cam Thomas will need a new contract while sexton is under contract for next year as well.


Sexton takes more in terms of salary matching though.

[babyjax13]

If he was tradable I would very much be talking about Lauri right now.

I'd love to send him to a team like OKC that will contend for years. He has been a good soldier, and is an amazing player that would thrive off of SGA.

[Daddy 801]

Wouldn’t do this trade as is. But I do like the idea of getting back our pick. I have zero concern about keeping it next year or even the year after because Utah has mastered the art of tanking. They rest their good players any time those guys will win us games. Utah can and should play that game for the next two seasons to keep their pick if they can’t get the protections removed. But it would allow Utah to start being competitive after next season instead of purposely tanking the next two years if they got their pick back. If Utah can land Flagg, Harper, or Ace Bailey they could then mid next season go after whomever is the next player looking to be traded. Whomever is next years Fox.

So I’d offer Sexton, Eubanks, Cleveland pick this year or two seconds of OKC’s choice if they prefer for protections removed and whatever hot garbage players they want to send to make salaries match. If you want Collins instead of Sexton that’s fine as well.

Something to that effect.

Want Sexton and Collins for protections removed I’m sure there is a deal there as well. The hot garbage players probably just have to not all be hot garbage.

I’m just not trading Kessler for what was offered. More picks would have to be involved because Utah can control keeping their pick by just tanking.

[nykballa2k4]

If we want a guard , sexton is the better target.

Eh... 4M is a nice tight number and if it's just for the purpose off self-starting offense if something happens to Shai... then it's a very low cost weapon on the bench. But Sexton is obviously more tested.

I think cost wise will be very similar in terms of draft asset but cam Thomas will need a new contract while sexton is under contract for next year as well.


Sexton takes more in terms of salary matching though.

For me, if I am OKC, that's a double edged sword that I prefer.
Cam Thomas is going to be a bucket (his role if traded for)
If he plays well, then he would cost more to re-sign, but might be worth it.
If he plays meh, he will still be a more affordable option that Sexton.

The draft capital cost, you are saying, is even, so as you noted, the outgoing salary is crucial. You can part with nothing and get Thomas, whereas to get Sexton... there is going to be a cost.