Grade the trade pitch: Jazz resolve Walker Kessler drama in blockbuster
By Matt John
If the Utah Jazz really wanted to trade Walker Kessler, as they've been rumored to all offseason long, he'd be gone by now. Alas, he's remained with the team with training camp not too long from now, so he's likely sticking around.
However, knowing how prominent the rumors were, they shouldn't be swept under a rug, and a lot can change once the 2024-25 season commences. If they resurface, Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes proposed a trade that could make some sense for the Jazz.
Hughes proposed the following trade between the Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans.
Jazz receive: Brandon Ingram
Pelicans receive: Kessler, John Collins, 2025 Cavaliers first-round pick
Why the Jazz do the deal
Hughes explained why the Jazz' timeline allows them to acquire someone like Ingram.
"The opportunistic Jazz can justify the risk of onboarding Ingram, and they should be more willing to meet his $200 million extension demands than the Pelicans. Utah's timeline is longer, which allows it to be patient. If it takes until next year for Ingram to rehabilitate his value ahead of a trade, the Jazz can wait—or simply keep a high-scoring forward with an All-Star nod on his resume as a partner for recently re-inked Lauri Markkanen."
He also explained why Kessler appeals to the Pelicans.
"An elite shot-blocking big who'd also address the Pels' suspect defensive rebounding, Kessler would shore up the back line with his size and length. Veteran Daniel Theis is New Orleans' current best option at center, and Zion Williamson simply doesn't provide the rim-protection or rebounding the position requires."
But would the Jazz do something like this?
For the record, similar trade pitches involving primarily Ingram and Kessler have been floated before. That's for good reason. Ingram is a win-now talent who, at the moment, doesn't seem to have much of a future in New Orleans, and Kessler, who has been involved in trade rumors for some time now, could fit perfectly as the Pelicans' starting center.
If the Jazz really think it's in their best interest to get Ingram, that's not the worst move as long as they have something else up their sleeve. However, it seems shortsighted of the Jazz to not only get rid of Kessler so soon but also trade him for a flight risk.
There are too many variables at play here. Trading Kessler so soon when he could very well be one of the bets rum protectors of his era seems a little drastic. Despite Ingram's talent, he's not the poster boy of health and he doesn't boast much success to his name.
To be fair, neither has Lauri Markkanen, but if the Jazz and Pelicans discuss this deal, don't be shocked if they try to keep Kessler out of it.
Grade: C+