Walker Kessler Should No Longer Play Until KO is Traded

[Saint Cy of JFC]

This is going to be a controversial take because I know a lot of people here think Walker Kessler is the 2nd coming, but he should not be playing until we move KO.

The reason: Lauri Markkanen needs to be developed as a guy who plays the 5. Doing this is way more important than developing Walker Kessler. If the time comes to trade KO, you absolutely do it so you can start giving Kessler some spot starter minutes and spot backup 5 minutes, but until then he should not play (unless foul trouble/injury of course).

 

[SoUjazzfan]

Due to the fact KO seems to always be in foul trouble I think we'll continue to see Kessler.
Even without foul trouble I'd give him spot minutes to continue to develop him. There's time, but without real competition I think he'll stagnate.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

ul trouble I think we'll continue to see Kessler.
Even without foul trouble I'd give him spot minutes to continue to develop him. There's time, but without real competition I think he'll stagnate.

He might stagnate, that's fine. The most important thing for his development right now is just working on his body. He will probably get minutes later in the season when trades (probably) happen. The more pressing issue is getting Lauri reps at the 5. It helps everyone else develop and it's where the team is heading. Kessler is our future backup, not our future starter.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

So what do you do with Vandy? He can't play on the wing or in the corner.

 

[ONE LOVE]

I think Lauri’s better as a 3 or a 4.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

So what do you do with Vandy? He can't play on the wing or in the corner.

He's been doing that...

Vandy plays everywhere. He is everywhere on both sides of the ball. He's our slasher that is able to take advantage of the spacing that Lauri/KO provide.

 

[Avery]

I'll let Danny know immediately.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

I think Lauri’s better as a 3 or a 4.

I used to think that but now I'm not so sure. Bottom line is, I want him involved in pick and rolls. Good things seem to happen every time he's the screener. He already has great chemistry with JC and Mike. When there's space in the middle and he can either pop, short roll or dive to the basket, it really opens up his game.

 

[Jingled]

I wondered which would come first, this thread or a thread about how THT should be getting more minutes than Sexton.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I used to think that but now I'm not so sure. Bottom line is, I want him involved in pick and rolls. Good things seem to happen every time he's the screener. He already has great chemistry with JC and Mike. When there's space in the middle and he can either pop, short roll or dive to the basket, it really opens up his game.

And maybe even more importantly, it makes the game much easier for everyone else.

Kessler just isnt a vertical threat right now and he mucks the game up too much without much benefit.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I wondered which would come first, this thread or a thread about how THT should be getting more minutes than Sexton.

Should be getting about the same minutes more or less with game situation dictating who gets more or less.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

He's been doing that...

Vandy plays everywhere. He is everywhere on both sides of the ball. He's our slasher that is able to take advantage of the spacing that Lauri/KO provide.

It's hard to be an effective slasher when defenses don't respect your shot one bit. Everybody sags off Vanderbilt because they know he's gonna go to his ultra dominant left hand and try to find a way to the basket. He has to take more of those corner 3's and he has to make more of them too.

Anyway, I love his hustle and he obviously thrives in chaos. But the Mavs game showed that when the offense slows down in half court and we see a zone, it's tough to find a role for him. I'm just not sure where you play him if Lauri is at the 5. His defender will always be able to cheat off him and bother the center.