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No Extension for Walker Kessler?

I guess the main factor here is the Jazz being unsure about Kessler's impact going forward.
They've oddly decided to go full gas on LM, and I think it probably has a role in being cautious about Walker.
Both are postseason unproven, both tend to suffer a bit when good Ds go another level and tight things up, both got some issues onone side of the floor ...
 
Hoop Collective was commenting on extensions on today's podcast.

Mentioned guys like Duren/Eason/Ivey/Williams, but no mention of Walker. Someone said Duren/Detroit were far apart on a deal. Supposedly Eason was offered 100+ million, but it may have been contingent on his health/not fully guaranteed so he didn't sign.

Basically said teams have been emboldened by the recent free agencies to not overpay for their own RFAs and everyone is scared of the apron.
 
Saint Cy of JFC said:
Hoop Collective was commenting on extensions on today's podcast.

Mentioned guys like Duren/Eason/Ivey/Williams, but no mention of Walker. Someone said Duren/Detroit were far apart on a deal. Supposedly Eason was offered 100+ million, but it may have been contingent on his health/not fully guaranteed so he didn't sign.

Basically said teams have been emboldened by the recent free agencies to not overpay for their own RFAs and everyone is scared of the apron.
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I wonder how much of Eason's offer was guaranteed, but I could see him making all of that in FA with some of the bad teams that will have space. Ivey/Eason/Williams make some sense to wait because of healthy. Duren has inconsistent effort and I just get the feeling they aren't sold on him as a core piece. Mathurin makes sense to wait too as he has a huge prove it opportunity.

My beef all along has been we didn't try hard enough to see if we could really find a reasonable deal. I would have really tried to keep those doors open for a last minute potential settling that looks amazing. It wouldn't shock me if he had settled for something like what Sharpe took plus maybe some incentives to sweeten the deal.

Like I thought we were going to be tough negotiators. Lowballing and walking away isn't being tough or smart. Its lazy.
 
Handlogten's Heros said:
If they move him it will make sense. I just think we opened ourselves up to something bad happening here.
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I think one of two things is happening:

1) Walker will be traded at the deadline. He doesn't fit how Will wants to play with a five-out offense and swarming, switching defenses. They're playing things light and mum to keep trade value as high as it can be. This would explain Walker's frustration and that, in the next sentence, he expressed a desire to be a part of what the Jazz are building.

2) More exciting but less probable: there's someone/something on the Jazz's radar for this summer and the Ainges are trying to pull off the most legendary accomplishment for an NBA GM: a two-window team. What did Ainge do after drafting Tatum and Brown? He brought in Hayward and Kyrie. If we have Ace and AJ/Booz/Peterson, all of our young talent, Lauri and a maxxed out All-Star or All-NBA player... that's a two window team. By not extending Kessler, they could bring in the max salary and then sign Kessler to a new contract into the apron. Doesn't seem to be a great free agent class, so if this is what pans out it may be via trade.

(Personally, I think it's number 1, but wouldn't be surprised with number 2. Ainge works this **** out well in advance - the Celtic baby onesies weren't an accident; he spent 3 years with KG as a target for Boston.)
 
Flc said:
I think one of two things is happening:

1) Walker will be traded at the deadline. He doesn't fit how Will wants to play with a five-out offense and swarming, switching defenses. They're playing things light and mum to keep trade value as high as it can be. This would explain Walker's frustration and that, in the next sentence, he expressed a desire to be a part of what the Jazz are building.

2) More exciting but less probable: there's someone/something on the Jazz's radar for this summer and the Ainges are trying to pull off the most legendary accomplishment for an NBA GM: a two-window team. What did Ainge do after drafting Tatum and Brown? He brought in Hayward and Kyrie. If we have Ace and AJ/Booz/Peterson, all of our young talent, Lauri and a maxxed out All-Star or All-NBA player... that's a two window team. By not extending Kessler, they could bring in the max salary and then sign Kessler to a new contract into the apron. Doesn't seem to be a great free agent class, so if this is what pans out it may be via trade.

(Personally, I think it's number 1, but wouldn't be surprised with number 2. Ainge works this **** out well in advance - the Celtic baby onesies weren't an accident; he spent 3 years with KG as a target for Boston.)
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I think its more #1 but less like they are for sure going to trade him and more like... they just aren't sure about him.

I could buy #2 if there were FAs that made sense. Right now its like Trae Young and Austin Reaves at the top... not exactly super team type stuff.

My guess with how this plays out is Kessler is moved to the Lakers for a first and maybe a swap. OR we ended up painting ourselves into a corner and pay him 32M+ per year when we could have gotten him around 25-26Mish. Not the end of the world but still an unforced error.
 
Handlogten's Heros said:
I think its more #1 but less like they are for sure going to trade him and more like... they just aren't sure about him.

I could buy #2 if there were FAs that made sense. Right now its like Trae Young and Austin Reaves at the top... not exactly super team type stuff.

My guess with how this plays out is Kessler is moved to the Lakers for a first and maybe a swap. OR we ended up painting ourselves into a corner and pay him 32M+ per year when we could have gotten him around 25-26Mish. Not the end of the world but still an unforced error.
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Echoes my feelings.

With #2, the one thing that gives me pause is the math. With the second apron out in the wild, there's a unique window of opportunity while our (hopefully) future stars are on rookie deals. Both Ainges have shown themselves to be hyper aware of this and you see that San Antonio is attempting to navigate the same waters right now with Wemby on the cheap.

I do think it's wishful thinking though and Walker's days with the Jazz are numbered.
 
Flc said:
Lakers might get desperate:


View: https://x.com/SheaSerrano/status/1980847845692285383



View: https://x.com/WorldWideWob/status/1980845841826078874



View: https://x.com/LakersDailyCom/status/1980859013442289713



View: https://x.com/damanr/status/1980850855218933934



View: https://x.com/NBA_University/status/1980837015378911483
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I'm absolutely shocked it isn't working.

Lakers are a **** show and Luka may have wished he stayed in shape to stay with a Dallas team built to his strengths if this continues.
 
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