The Golden State Warriors tried to get a co-star for Stephen Curry this summer but failed to land one, as Paul George ended up hitting free agency and signing with Philadelphia, and Lauri Markkanen signed a long-term extension with the Utah Jazz. With an unwillingness to pay a price that compromises the roster’s core, the Warriors could pivot to acquiring a supporting piece.
Walker Kessler’s long-term fit on the Jazz is under question right now despite a strong first two seasons with the franchise. The center could be a chip that the Jazz cash in on now to complement Will Hardy’s play-style, as John Collins got extended minutes as a small-ball center for the Jazz. The Warriors could add a young scoring swingman and a valuable draft asset in a package to bring Kessler to Golden State.
Trade Details
Golden State Warriors Receive: Walker Kessler
Utah Jazz Receive: Moses Moody, 2028 First-Round Pick (GSW)
A relatively straightforward trade, as the Jazz receive an unprotected pick from the Warriors who would have a very uncertain future four years from now. In addition, Moody could thrive on the Jazz while Kessler provides reliable center play in a Conference of giants.
The Warriors Add Size To Be A Playoff Threat In The West
The one pattern we’ve seen amongst contenders in the West right now is size on their rosters. Nikola Jokic on the Nuggets is the best player in the NBA, the Timberwolves have two All-Star big men like Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Mavericks have a young and athletic center duo of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, while even the Thunder spent big money on signing Isaiah Hartenstein to partner Chet Holmgren.
Even a team like the Lakers, who were better than the Warriors last season, have Anthony Davis on the roster and were looking to acquire another big man. You need centers to survive in the West, with the Warriors best options being Kevon Looney, sophomore Trayce Jackson-Davis, and an undersized Draymond Green.
Kessler averaged 8.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks last season. He’s a traditional rim-protecting center who likes to camp in the middle, which hurts his team on perimeter spacing as well as defense. But he’s a terror in the paint and a massive deterrent to rim finishes from opponents.
The Warriors need a defensive option like him instead of running undersized center like TJD or Draymond for versatility sake. Green needs to be the power forward next to small forward Jonathan Kuminga to maximize defensive versatility, making Kessler the cherry on top of what could be a menacing defensive system also including Brandin Podziemski.
The Jazz Consolidate Into Complementary Assets
The Utah Jazz are coming to the end of the road of a play-style which can feature a center like Kessler. The team is built to play small and fast with versatile players across positions. While Kessler is a solid option, he doesn’t look like a foundational piece for a franchise that already saw a one-dimensional center develop into a multi-time Defensive Player of the Year with a second-round ceiling.
Moses Moody would be an interesting young wing piece to add to the Jazz. The 21-year-old averaged 8.1 points and 3.0 rebounds with limited opportunity on the Warriors last season. He has shown flashes of being a star-level two-way player, which explains why the Warriors haven’t parted ways with him yet. He isn’t as valuable as an asset as Kessler, which is why the Warriors hand out what could be the biggest asset of the trade.
The future in Golden State is quite cloudy right now, as the team has taken multiple step backs since winning their championship in 2022. Their star players have regressed, with multiple key pieces also having left the franchise.
The burden Stephen Curry will have to carry at age 36 isn’t sustainable, so the Warriors either lose Curry now or go all-in to win around him. The uncertainty makes their 2028 pick a valuable asset, which would then convey when Curry is 40 years old. Even if he’s playing, there’s no guarantee the Warriors are a Playoff team at that point.
A Deal With Risk On Both Sides
The Jazz could hold on to Kessler to try and bolster his value regardless of his fit within the team’s system. The franchise might be headed for another tanking season, which would lead to them having enough latitude to continue playing Kessler until an offer sweeps them off their feet.
The risk on doing this deal now for them is the possible missed value on a 22-year-old center and the uncertainty on the future of the Warriors. But the potential upside on their part is obviously the pick turning out good as well as the development time given to players like Taylor Hendricks in the frontcourt instead turning out to be fruitful.
The Warriors can rely on an elite rim protector to do the gritty stuff on defense for them. While his lack of versatility could be a problem, maximizing what he’s good at within a center rotation with multiple options could be the best way to move forward. If the Warriors can’t out-talent opponents, they have to beat them in specific matchups.
Kessler is insurance against the size on almost every West contender while also providing a potential option against smaller teams to act as a rim deterrent. This could be a homerun deal if the Warriors can extract the potential Kessler has by improving his on-ball passing skills and perimeter play.
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