Walker Kessler and Jalen Duren were two of the premier restricted free agents to hit the market this summer, let alone for their position. Their summers went in opposite directions this summer: Kessler got a nice new deal with the Los Angeles Lakers while Duren is still very much in the thick of his game of chicken with the Detroit Pistons.
As wise as the Utah Jazz look for avoiding this nightmare scenario, they could have been in this exact scenario Detroit's in with Duren with Kessler. Maybe even worse.
The Athletic's Sam Amick confirmed while talking with Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix that Duren was the Lakers' Plan B if their pursuit of Kessler didn't work out. Per Amick, the Lakers saw Duren as a "max player."
In all fairness, Duren would have been harder for the Lakers to pry than Kessler. Not only did he play the full season, but he was an All-Star and All-NBA center. He was going to cost more, as he had more accolades to his name.
However, them going after Kessler and succeeding is acually a blessing in disguise to the Jazz because if the Lakers had turned to Duren first, and by some miracle, succeeded, that left Utah with a situation that could have turned into a disaster for them.
Kessler would signed QO in Utah
A few days ago, it was confirmed that Kessler had convinced the Jazz's front office that he would have signed the qualifying offer for this season, which would have put him in line to enter unrestricted free agency next summer.
This could have been a potential catastrophe for the Jazz, because even if this wasn't confirmed, Kessler taking this route would have signaled that he was leaving Utah the first chance he got for greener pastures. Luckily, that's where the Lakers stepped in and offered quite the haul for him, even when Kessler had all but signaled that he was done in Utah.
So, in a way, the Jazz can thank the Lakers for turning their attention to Kessler instead of Duren. Again, Kessler was the easier option for them, so it makes sense why they turned to him instead of Duren. Even so, they bailed Utah out of a very tricky situation that could have turned very hairy if Kessler had made good on what he told Utah he would do had no trade happened.
In a perfect world, the Jazz would have kept Kessler along with all of their other talent and arm themselves for an excellent run ahead for them. Alas, it was already a tricky enough situation with the tax aprons and Keyonte George's extension. Kessler's intentions could have hurt a lot, but the Lakers swopped in and took care quite a few problems before they ever manifested themsekves.
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