Roster Building From Here - FA and Summer of 2023

[Handlogten's Heros]

Yep. I LOVE Kessler. But i also understand that the nba has been and is changing. Bigs that cant shoot and cant defend the perimeter are less valuable each year. God forbid we have Kessler as our starting center and run into a team like the warriors who are using draymond at center or something. Or the clippers using morris at center. I cant remember which team it is (kings maybe or celtics?) that have been playing 5 out ball in these playoffs and looking good. Kessler could have trouble and even be a liability in a series like that. Teams can scheme a traditional center off the court.

The thing that is a bit different with Kessler is I think he has good enough hands and a decent finishing package around the rim. I don’t think he is the type to get played off the floor but you might want a stretch big or more switch lineup to counter. I just think if you are getting Luka you are getting him the play him with Lauri and Walker… don’t want to be the Utah Mavs. We have enough other stuff the trade should work.

I don’t think Walker will ever be an outside shooter but I think he will be more equipped to punish small lineups than Rudy was. The playoff defensive issues we had were mostly the garbage effort and garbage defenders we had on the perimeter. Add in a lack of being able to play multiple ways defensively and it was only a matter of time before you ran into a bad matchup.

 

[NUMBERICA]

The thing that is a bit different with Kessler is I think he has good enough hands and a decent finishing package around the rim. I don’t think he is the type to get played off the floor but you might want a stretch big or more switch lineup to counter. I just think if you are getting Luka you are getting him the play him with Lauri and Walker… don’t want to be the Utah Mavs. We have enough other stuff the trade should work.

I don’t think Walker will ever be an outside shooter but I think he will be more equipped to punish small lineups than Rudy was. The playoff defensive issues we had were mostly the garbage effort and garbage defenders we had on the perimeter. Add in a lack of being able to play multiple ways defensively and it was only a matter of time before you ran into a bad matchup.

Okay, but there are still limitations. And what if he (and maybe an unprotected pick) gets you a top-3 pick, rather than sending three or four (the inverse of the Jaden McDaniels effect).

I’m simply saying this notion that he’s untouchable is overboard.

I also just want to plant my flag that basically nobody was talking about Kessler as an actually good NBA player last year but I raised the point unprompted. I am not a hater and I see his obvious value. Hell, if the Warriors had him they would sweep the Kings since Kessler totally owns Sabonis.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Okay, but there are still limitations. And what if he (and maybe an unprotected pick) gets you a top-3 pick, rather than sending three or four (the inverse of the Jaden McDaniels effect).

I’m simply saying this notion that he’s untouchable is overboard.

Yeah I get that. I was thinking more the Luka trade so might be behind. Like what if Portland has the 3rd pick and would do 3 for Walker and 9 or maybe Walker and 16. I’m sure there are a bunch here that wouldn’t do Walker for #3 straight… and I get it.

I would like to see what he looks like after a full summer of training. He’s way more coordinated with the ball around the basket than Rudy was. No one is untouchable though.

 

[TheStormofWar]

I don't think that Kessler is untouchable, but it is no stretch to think he can be decent offensively in punishing small ball lineups (which Gobert could never seem to do). I still there is value in a decent post game. If Kessler can do that? All the better. I do think he has better hands than Gobert.

 

[NUMBERICA]

I don't think that Kessler is untouchable, but it is no stretch to think he can be decent offensively in punishing small ball lineups (which Gobert could never seem to do). I still there is value in a decent post game. If Kessler can do that? All the better. I do think he has better hands than Gobert.

If he can develop a post game that can reliably punish switches then things get more interesting. Post-play is super interesting as it is statistically a terrible play, but you need it to nullify small ball, and small ball is a wrecking ball when you have the roster for it.

The problem right now is I don't think there's much evidence about his proficiency in the post even in the NCAA (I could be wrong, I just am not going to do the dive).

 

[Shad]

I don't think that Kessler is untouchable, but it is no stretch to think he can be decent offensively in punishing small ball lineups (which Gobert could never seem to do). I still there is value in a decent post game. If Kessler can do that? All the better. I do think he has better hands than Gobert.

Kessler is already better than Gobert offensively.... everything else is just an added bons

 

[fishonjazz]

He’s way more coordinated with the ball around the basket than Rudy was.

Serious question. Can you think of any nba player who isn't? I mean guys like Dok, Bismack, Boban etc can all at least catch the ball when it isn't perfect and can all toss up a baby hook.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Okay, but there are still limitations. And what if he (and maybe an unprotected pick) gets you a top-3 pick, rather than sending three or four (the inverse of the Jaden McDaniels effect).

I’m simply saying this notion that he’s untouchable is overboard.

I also just want to plant my flag that basically nobody was talking about Kessler as an actually good NBA player last year but I raised the point unprompted. I am not a hater and I see his obvious value. Hell, if the Warriors had him they would sweep the Kings since Kessler totally owns Sabonis.

Receipt:

I think everyone is sleeping on Walker Kessler. Someone in the late 1st or later is going to draft a 10+ year NBA player. He moves surprisingly well for someone of his immense size and his block numbers are INSANE.

There were two posts in the entire thread that highlighted Kessler unprompted. Just saying.

 

[fishonjazz]

If he can develop a post game that can reliably punish switches then things get more interesting. Post-play is super interesting as it is statistically a terrible play, but you need it to nullify small ball, and small ball is a wrecking ball when you have the roster for it.

The problem right now is I don't think there's much evidence about his proficiency in the post even in the NCAA (I could be wrong, I just am not going to do the dive).

Ya and then lets say he is good at punishing guys in the post. Then teams hack a shaq him and he is a poor free throw shooter (that could change though for sure). Or you double him and who knows if he is a good enough passer to hurt that strategy. Or you put a long guy like morris on him and deny the post entry. Plus some 5 out lineups consist of a big who can shoot AND who can guard another big in the post. Its just getting harder to be an offensively limited big these days.

 

[Bodhi]

The thing that is a bit different with Kessler is I think he has good enough hands and a decent finishing package around the rim. I don’t think he is the type to get played off the floor but you might want a stretch big or more switch lineup to counter. I just think if you are getting Luka you are getting him the play him with Lauri and Walker… don’t want to be the Utah Mavs. We have enough other stuff the trade should work.

I don’t think Walker will ever be an outside shooter but I think he will be more equipped to punish small lineups than Rudy was. The playoff defensive issues we had were mostly the garbage effort and garbage defenders we had on the perimeter. Add in a lack of being able to play multiple ways defensively and it was only a matter of time before you ran into a bad matchup.

Went to reply to Fish and then you nailed exactly what I was going to say. Nice.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Ya and then lets say he is good at punishing guys in the post. Then teams hack a shaq him and he is a poor free throw shooter (that could change though for sure). Or you double him and who knows if he is a good enough passer to hurt that strategy. Or you put a long guy like morris on him and deny the post entry. Plus some 5 out lineups consist of a big who can shoot AND who can guard another big in the post. Its just getting harder to be an offensively limited big these days.

And teams are not dusting off the playoff playbook to beat a tanking Jazz team with piss jerseys in March. We just haven't seen him specifically scouted very much. Portland did it very effectively in one game and the board was a little shaken by it.

That being said, he was a rookie. There is a lot to like and to be hopeful about. I see the whole picture but I think too many here are just a little drunk on the Kool Aid.

 

[fishonjazz]

I don’t think Walker will ever be an outside shooter but I think he will be more equipped to punish small lineups than Rudy was.

Sometimes a 5 out lineup is not a small ball lineup though. In that instance Walker now has to guard the perimeter and also cant punish them on the other end.