Can the Jazz afford Keyonte, Kessler and Lauri?

[jazznik]

Keyonte took a next step... and clearly became considerably more expensive. The Jazz have a lot of cap space going forward but this summer they should decide if they can give a new contract to Kessler and extend Keyonte. And they already have Lauri on the books.

Correct me if I am wrong but if the Jazz retain all three of them then they will have no room for signing any other impactful players. Should they then be OK about moving forward with the core of Lauri, Keyonte, Kessler, Ace, and the 2026 draft pick? And, if not, who should the Jazz trade/let go?

 

[Shad]

Yes, they can. Now should they? Probably not.

 

[cctrackstar]

That was the point of it wasn't it? To find talent? Of course you will have to pay them. Why trade for a guy if you already have one who knows the system. The new cba has all the teams strapped for cash, hopefully they won't have to overpay.

 

[jazznik]

That was the point of it wasn't it? To find talent? Of course you will have to pay them. Why trade for a guy if you already have one who knows the system.

Well, first, because all of these players are good players but it for the money they are paid/will be paid they are unlikely to be "underpaid". For example, Lauri's contract is similar to Doncic, Mitchell, Ant, Cade: all of them are better players...

And, second, looking at other teams that completed their rebuilds recently they almost always add another established star player via trade or free agency. Even OKC with the loads of talent and never-ending picks added Hartenstein. Will the Jazz have any money left to sign their Hartenstein or Mitchell? Spending big money on both Keyonte and Kessler means putting a lot of hope in Ace and the 2026 pick(s) becoming great players fast.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Should trade everyone for minimum contracts tbh

 

[NUMBERICA]

Good problem.

Next.