The 22-18 Los Angeles Lakers are in real need of a big man and their fans are even willing to give up Dalton Knecht for a good one. A fan on the Lakers subreddit asked the members if they would trade Knecht for Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler and the answer was overwhelmingly yes.
“Yes, in a heartbeat, but that also means the Jazz would hang up the phone,” one fan reckons the Jazz wouldn’t be interested.
“Straight up no additional picks, yes,” a fan would make the trade if no draft picks were involved.
“Yeah, and I’d include more draft capital to make it happen if it was an option,” another fan would give up picks too if it meant they could get Kessler.
“Kessler is younger and plays a more difficult-to-fill role as a two-way player. This should be a very easy, obvious yes,” one fan thinks the answer is obvious.
“Is this a real question? Of course. Kessler is proven. Knecht had one good month and has shot like crap since,” one fan wants the proven commodity over the rookie.
It has somewhat gone under the radar that Knecht’s shot has deserted him recently. He shot 42.9% from beyond the arc in the first 20 games of his rookie season but that number dropped to 19.1% in his last 20.
Knecht, the 17th pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, is now averaging 9.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game in 2024-25 while shooting 33.9% from beyond the arc. The 23-year-old has well and truly hit the rookie wall.
As for Kessler, he had a bit of a sophomore slump last season but has bounced back in this one. The 23-year-old is averaging 11.1 points, 11.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game for the Jazz in 2024-25.
Kessler would certainly provide a big boost defensively to the Lakers. Their 115.7 defensive rating ranks 24th in the NBA and they’d be a lot higher up on that list if they got him in.
The problem for the Lakers, though, as their own fans mentioned, is that it won’t be easy to get Kessler. They’ll almost certainly have to give up draft capital and Knecht to get the big man, as the Jazz have no real incentive to part with him and he’s not angling for a move either.
The Lakers have been quite reluctant to part with their first-round picks and you wonder if they would give up one or two of them for Kessler. He would fill a need but, at the same time, doesn’t help with another one.
The Lakers rank 20th in three-point percentage this season at 35.3% and need to bring in shooters. Kessler, of course, can’t shoot as he has made a total of seven three-pointers since the Jazz drafted him with the 22nd pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He isn’t a good midrange shooter either and does most of his scoring near the basket.
So, Kessler not being much of a factor offensively might make the Lakers decide against giving up premium draft capital. A short-term option at the position that could do a job and wouldn’t cost too much might end up being what they go for.
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