2024-25 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

Caruso is Houston's own like Vando, I knew about him before 99% of Lakers fans ever heard of him. I understand guys like that value. I'd just rather see what Vando has first,and trade Rui for a 5.

 

I like Kessler but 3 unprotected FRP? I don't like him that much.

 

To miss 1-to-2 weeks
Irving has a bulging disc in his back and is expected to miss at least one-to-two weeks, ESPN's Shams Charania reports.
I don't think that Klay is capable of 50 points game anymore .Should be pretty easy win without Kyrie and Luka

 

I get the sticker shock at the idea of 2.5 firsts for Kessler. When you watch him play, he doesn't seem like the kind of talent you spend that many picks on. But fit and roster construction matter so much more in the league today than they used to that I think it could be worth it.

Look at what the Knicks did with Bridges, who to be absolutely clear is definitely a better player than Kessler. Four first round picks, another protected first, a pick swap and 2 seconds. Instant reaction to that trade by many was that it was an overpay by the Knicks. But look what he's done for that team after a bit of a slow start. They have one of the best wing defensive tandems in the league with Bridges and OG. Bridges can guard down a position and handle some POA duties as well. He's a valuable spot-up shooter and smart player in the halfcourt generally that can play off of Brunson and Towns, but also do a little bit of creation himself. They're 8-2 in their last 10 and are probably the best Knicks team since the mid 90s. They could have waited to use their picks on the next superstar that forced his way out, but they had a vision for how Bridges could help make that team more than the sum of its parts.

I think it could be similar with Kessler; the impact he could have for our specific team could outweigh his individual talent level.

 

this is a good point. kessler is also still young and has been reasonably durable so far.

i always say i like to save picks for stars, but i'd also spend them on proven young players, too. see my earlier post for more details, but essentially, you just want something that holds the value of the pick. jerami grant may be a more impactful player than kessler right now (though honestly probably not), but hell no to future firsts for him. he'll be done long before they convey, which is a problem.

the AD trade wraps completely this year, a year in which he's still playing all-nba level ball. if you trade two firsts for kessler, but he's your starting center when the last one conveys, that's probably picks well spent.

 

Is 2 first for Kessler an overpay? In today's NBA probably not. However, you are giving up a lot but the guy is only 23 averaging a double-double shooting over 70% from the floor. He can't shoot from 3 but I think the perfect fit next to AD/Bron

 

Yeah I like your thinking of doing Knecht for Kessler. They are the same age after all. I'd be hesitant to throw any picks in for that though. Perhaps removing the protection and giving them a swap may tempt Ainge.

In reality, I heavily doubt Utah wants to give us Kessler. That will certainly tank them picks anwyays. They saw what happened in that Conley, NAW trade for Minny's 2023 pick lol.

 

I get your point but Knicks are in a different context, they are in win now mode with a superstar in Brunson (and now KAT) that give them a timeline of a decade. Like Abeer said, it's important that the picks you are giving are within the timeline of the players you're getting.
Kessler is within that scenario, but he's not a star. He will not make your team good enough to compete (as you can see with the Jazz) and avoid tanking.
By the time the picks convey, we are without Bron and AD and have Reaves, Knecht and Kessler. That's a tanking team. Until then, you have no tradable picks and stars are no longer available in FA.
That's why I'm not giving up picks for Kessler. I would go as far as removing the protection of the 2027 one.

Another angle is like the Warriors are now, where you are closing your window (like we are) and can decide to go all-in on that. I can accept that, but only if it's a move that brings you to top2 in your conference at the very least. I don't think Kessler does that. Dejounte does that, but not Kessler.

So, why mortgaging the next 5 to 6 years at least to still be top4/5 in the West?

If Kessler was the missing piece, it's a tempting move. But if after that move we are still lacking in important areas (shot creation, POA and shooting), then I'm out

 

how about knecht/jhs and a lotto-protected 2026 swap for kessler/collier?

 

makes a lot of sense for both teams - Ainge gets a good prospect and another pick to add to the hoard. He might not pull the trigger unless it's knecht and taking the protection off the pick the Lakers owe them.

 

It would be tempting. But a swap with Utah so early is more of a fake pick. Even more so being lotto protected, would mean that in order to be conveyed we and Utah would need to be in the playoffs and Utah in front of us. All this next year.
But removing the protection of the 2027 could make it happen.

I would very tempted to use Knecht for a win-now move that save us an FRP

 

I don't understand this mentality. It's so hard to hit good players with even lotto picks and we're throwing away our biggest draft hit in ages, who is going to be cost controlled for years, and has a ceiling that is borderline all-star, for a center that's not even that great and that we're going to have to pay next season?

We have Knecht tied up until 2028 for peanuts, we'd have to be crazy to trade this contract. It's almost as valuable as the AR contract for me.

I would understand doing it for an AD type of player, not for a Kessler.

I'll be extremely pissed if this happens.

 

i think the disagreement is about ceilings. i think folks are thinking the 37-point knecht will be a regular occurrence in the future. i (again, maybe the first one on the forum who was on the knecht train!) am less sure about that.

i think he projects as a starting caliber wing, but not an allstar. kessler is a starting caliber center (same exact age, btw) but won't be an allstar, either. you have to wait on knecht being playable against good teams, but you don't on kessler.

 

It’s Kessler insanity in here.

 

Gabe for Valenciunas
Rui and JHS
For sexton and patty mills

 

Yeah, but Knecht could be a 16ppg contributor once he acclimates to the NBA game. I don’t think that’s a stretch at all.
Again, I like Kessler, but not for more than One First and none of our good youth.

 

I hope this is b******* rumors.Travor Lane showing on his channel
Beal wants to Lakers

 

It’s mathematically impossible