Kessler to Lakers (SHAMS)

ReggiesKnicks · Post #21 » by **ReggiesKnicks** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:45 pm

LightTheBeam wrote:An overpay for Kessler, but this is where we are at with centers today.

I dont really get this for Utah. They acquire JJJ, they draft Peterson. They put themselves in a position to be a really good team next year, then he sells to the Lakers for picks?

They will be good.

Keyonte/Peterson/Bailey/Lauri/JJJ
Collier/Konchar/Sensabaugh/Filipkowski/Nurkic

That's a team who will be in the tier of Portland/Golden State/Los Angeles (LAL)/Phoenix

psman2 · Post #22 » by **psman2** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:47 pm

I think you still want a traditional center for 25 minutes a game. Nurk play looked decent last year and if his 3pt shot is real then he might be enough with JJJ closing as the center. JJJ plays more center and Lauri more PF and more SF minutes for Ace. This is a step back next season more than likely, but the reality is the Jazz likely want to be peaking in 2 years when DP is more experienced and getting into the tax this early could have made things harder when their window likely is open. Jazz have taken a slower road but have the assets to speed up again later if needed.

jayjaysee · Post #23 » by **jayjaysee** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:47 pm

Feel like I have to eat some crow on Kessler’s value. And sign and trade value.

But this feels like a mistake for LAL unless Kessler is the small sample size Kessler.. Will be tough to fill out rotation imo, maybe you can get some complicated sign and trade for LBJ done to keep your MLE?

cl2117 · Post #24 » by **cl2117** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:47 pm

Wow, what a commitment. Ainge got his pound of flesh. Don't see this one working out for LA, but if Luka stays long-term they'll be fine.

gswhoops · Post #25 » by **gswhoops** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:48 pm

ReggiesKnicks wrote:
LightTheBeam wrote:An overpay for Kessler, but this is where we are at with centers today.

I dont really get this for Utah. They acquire JJJ, they draft Peterson. They put themselves in a position to be a really good team next year, then he sells to the Lakers for picks?

They will be good.

Keyonte/Peterson/Bailey/Lauri/JJJ
Collier/Konchar/Sensabaugh/Filipkowski/Nurkic

That's a team who will be in the tier of Portland/Golden State/Los Angeles (LAL)/Phoenix

My guess is that Nurkic is nominally the starter and either Ace or DP starts the season as 6th man but agree with your overall point

They'll still be a solid play in contender, maybe more depending on how Ace/DP are this year

LarsV8 · Post #26 » by **LarsV8** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:49 pm

yikes...and less money out there for Eason...I like tat.

JMAC3 · Post #27 » by **JMAC3** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:49 pm

I think it is an overpay for Lakers, but they didn't have a lot of options.
1. Max Duren and pray Detroit didnt match.
2. Get Kessler on a more manageable deal but give up a bunch of assets.
3. Do neither, take someone into cap space like Sabonis with the hopes you could trade him in the future + picks for someone like Duren/Kessler.

Lakers should have around 20 million to spend which should go further now that Center is locked down.
Grimes, Mamu and someone like Rui is still maybe possible if they can clear Knecht potentially.

Slava · Post #28 » by **Slava** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:50 pm

That’s an overpay and a half but those pick swaps are atleast less worth as long as Luka is around.

psman2 · Post #29 » by **psman2** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:51 pm

They should be able to dump Vandy on Utah at this price.

giberish · Post #30 » by **giberish** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:52 pm

The Lakers got their white whale, but was it worth it?

babyjax13 · Post #31 » by **babyjax13** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:52 pm

I am big sad about losing Walker, but holy crap that is a lot to get in a sign and trade. I hope he is worth this, but I am happy to not take the risk even though I think there was a reasonable chance he'd be our best player next season. We really need a center now.

jayjaysee · Post #32 » by **jayjaysee** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:54 pm

psman2 wrote:They should be able to dump Vandy on Utah at this price.

Green font that Vandy is currently their fourth best player..

Astaluego · Post #33 » by **Astaluego** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:54 pm

In my opinion, the Jazz should have sacrificed Lauri—who is more expensive and further removed from their new timeline—though it is hard to turn down such an overpayment; Pelinka should be fired...
Why not keep Smart?

davidv2001 · Post #34 » by **davidv2001** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:54 pm

ReggiesKnicks wrote:
LightTheBeam wrote:An overpay for Kessler, but this is where we are at with centers today.

I dont really get this for Utah. They acquire JJJ, they draft Peterson. They put themselves in a position to be a really good team next year, then he sells to the Lakers for picks?

They will be good.

Keyonte/Peterson/Bailey/Lauri/JJJ
Collier/Konchar/Sensabaugh/Filipkowski/Nurkic

That's a team who will be in the tier of Portland/Golden State/Los Angeles (LAL)/Phoenix

That front court is going to get abused on the glass, and they lack good perimeter defenders. I wonder if Utah makes Mitchell Robinson an MLE offer.

Post #35 » by **Dadouv47** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:55 pm

Slava wrote:That’s an overpay and a half but those pick swaps are atleast less worth as long as Luka is around.

heard this before about Kawhi and PG13

JHFVF07 · Post #36 » by **JHFVF07** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:55 pm

Im hoping we dumped Vando in this deal, then we can sign Mamu, Grimes and bring Rui with the MLE.

Luka/Knecht
Reaves/Carr
Grimes/Laravia
Rui/Mamu
Kessler/Ayton

We need a backup PG, even stagering Luka/Reaves minutes.

babyjax13 · Post #37 » by **babyjax13** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:56 pm

jayjaysee wrote:Feel like I have to eat some crow on Kessler’s value. And sign and trade value.

But this feels like a mistake for LAL unless Kessler is the small sample size Kessler.. Will be tough to fill out rotation imo, maybe you can get some complicated sign and trade for LBJ done to keep your MLE?

If he is small sample size Kessler the Jazz will look back on this with a lot of regret. That is a top 5 center in the NBA. Now, I think real Kessler is somewhere in between what he was 2 years ago and what he was to start the year.

babyjax13 · Post #38 » by **babyjax13** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:56 pm

davidv2001 wrote:
ReggiesKnicks wrote:
LightTheBeam wrote:An overpay for Kessler, but this is where we are at with centers today.

I dont really get this for Utah. They acquire JJJ, they draft Peterson. They put themselves in a position to be a really good team next year, then he sells to the Lakers for picks?

They will be good.

Keyonte/Peterson/Bailey/Lauri/JJJ
Collier/Konchar/Sensabaugh/Filipkowski/Nurkic

That's a team who will be in the tier of Portland/Golden State/Los Angeles (LAL)/Phoenix

That front court is going to get abused on the glass, and they lack good perimeter defenders. I wonder if Utah makes Mitchell Robinson an MLE offer.

Boston already signed him.

Post #39 » by **Andre Roberstan** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:57 pm

They got their guy. Cost them a LOT though. This could break really badly if anything goes wrong.

mademan · Post #40 » by **mademan** » Wed Jul 1, 2026 3:57 pm

Slava wrote:That’s an overpay and a half but those pick swaps are atleast less worth as long as Luka is around.

With the new lottery odds, and a competitive West, youre always 20ish missed games from Luka and maybe some bad luck in a few clutch games from being in the play in. And teams that bubble out of the play in have a good shot at the top picks in the this new system