Lakers-Jazz

[Astaluego]

Yes, I also think they are very good business partners. I think trading Kessle for Collins would make a lot more sense for both of them. Kessler is younger and could perfectly be part of the Jazz's future core... while Collins gives the LAKERS the interior presence they are looking for with the benefit that he can play alongside AD without hindering the space...

[SlimShady83]

What ever It takes to get Kessler IMO Zimpy ... In order for me It's - See Signature

Kessler/Turner/Poeltl/Sharp/Vuc

[KuzControl]

Yes, I also think they are very good business partners. I think trading Kessle for Collins would make a lot more sense for both of them. Kessler is younger and could perfectly be part of the Jazz's future core... while Collins gives the LAKERS the interior presence they are looking for with the benefit that he can play alongside AD without hindering the space...

Reckon the point for LAL is to get a quality cost-controlled big (admittedly while giving up a lot more draft capital), rather than pay Collins 27mil

Still unsure whether Kessler is actually obtainable for us

[SkyHook]

Kessler with Sexton/Clarkson for every unprotected draft asset the Lakers have is the new version of Hield/Turner for the same package.

This Lakers front office has shown that they place a very high value on those future draft picks. They aren’t going to throw picks out unless they feel it will make them a true contender. And I don’t know if there is a move out there besides getting a third star they can do that. I don’t think Kessler and Sexton move the needle in that regard. And frankly, I’m not sure if Sexton is an upgrade over Rui.

Throwing out another idea here:
Utah can send the Lakers the lessor of their 2025 1sts and make the 2027 a swap (either with or without protections depending in the deal). LA then sends Utah their 2026 1st unprotected. A swap for Utah makes more sense in 2027 when they control the better of MIN/CLE picks and we can say the odds are that pick will be less valuable than the Lakers pick.

Utah gets 2 high upside Lakers draft assets, but on a short timeline. LA takes short term draft equity risk to improve the roster, but keeps their long term draft capital.

Does this mean Kenecht plus this draft package for Kessler? Including a Rui/Sexton swap? Can you make it a 4 for 2 with LA sending out Vincent/Hood-Schifino/Wood along with Kenecht for Sexton/Kessler. I think if I’m the Lakers I’m ok giving both 26 and 27 unprotected in that last package. And if your Utah, you get 2 shots at the pick turning into gold (yes, it’s a 2 year bet on LeBron retiring and/or regressing)

A novel proposal. It's interesting.

Look, it’s not as exciting for Utah as removing protections from 27 and getting 29 unprotected without adding an additional pick, but I think there is real value in controlling the Lakers draft in 2026 and 2027. The odds are higher that both picks fall in the top-10 then both picks falling in the bottom 10.

And if you’re looking for a high upside asset for Kessler, this might be your best shot. It’s hard to find a team with a starting center need and better assets to offer.

I'm not looking. I'm definitely in the "keep him" camp. I expect the FO to be an extremely reluctant seller with Kessler.

[Daddy 801]

A novel proposal. It's interesting.

Look, it’s not as exciting for Utah as removing protections from 27 and getting 29 unprotected without adding an additional pick, but I think there is real value in controlling the Lakers draft in 2026 and 2027. The odds are higher that both picks fall in the top-10 then both picks falling in the bottom 10.

And if you’re looking for a high upside asset for Kessler, this might be your best shot. It’s hard to find a team with a starting center need and better assets to offer.

I'm not looking. I'm definitely in the "keep him" camp. I expect the FO to be an extremely reluctant seller with Kessler.

100% agree. Which is why it would take an offer most people think is absurd to get him. He is just getting better and better as the year goes on. He’s the best offensive rebounding big man at a pretty young age. He has years and years of being a good solid player and seems like good dude and teammate.

[HadAnEffectHere]

A major issue for Kessler is that he does nothing well other than shot blocking and offensive rebounding (where he's the best in the league) so it's hard to tell how useable he'll be in the postseason five years from now when the Jazz are in the postseason.

The skill requirement for centers grows every year and Kessler is playable now, but I don't know about years and years in the future (which is when the Jazz will be trying)

[SkyHook]

A major issue for Kessler is that he does nothing well other than shot blocking and offensive rebounding (where he's the best in the league) so it's hard to tell how useable he'll be in the postseason five years from now when the Jazz are in the postseason.

The skill requirement for centers grows every year and Kessler is playable now, but I don't know about years and years in the future (which is when the Jazz will be trying)

This is absolutely nonsensical to me. Centers who don't shoot with range but are elite in other areas will always have value. Kessler's percentiles are:

100th eFG%
99th TS%
98th ORB
97th BLK
91st DRB

He's an elite rim finisher and defender who challenges more shots than anyone in the league. He's a keeper.

[HadAnEffectHere]

A major issue for Kessler is that he does nothing well other than shot blocking and offensive rebounding (where he's the best in the league) so it's hard to tell how useable he'll be in the postseason five years from now when the Jazz are in the postseason.

The skill requirement for centers grows every year and Kessler is playable now, but I don't know about years and years in the future (which is when the Jazz will be trying)

This is absolutely nonsensical to me. Centers who don't shoot with range but are elite in other areas will always have value. Kessler's percentiles are:

100th eFG%
99th TS%
98th ORB
97th BLK
91st DRB

He's an elite rim finisher and defender who challenges more shots than anyone in the league. He's a keeper.

It's very questionable to say whether he's an elite defender as he has anchored the worst defense in the NBA in back to back years. He is an elite shot blocker, but otherwise it's a question mark.

I think there's a very good chance Kessler can't keep up skills wise five years from now as more and more centers learn how to dribble.

You usually don't have to project this far in terms of style of play, but the Jazz's tank is so extreme and the team is so far away that talking about less than five years away would be overly optimistic.