Walker Kessler is the steal of the draft

[Lebron23]

The Utah Jazz won the Gobert to Minnesota Timberwolves trade. Walker Kessler is the steal of the 2022 NBA Draft.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A7gj1WCs8M

[Xiao Yao You]

way too early to say the Jazz won. They traded the 3rd best player in their history. They have a couple backups and picks to show for it so far

[Im Still Ballin]

It started with AD and Eaton, followed by Stockton and Malone. Next were Kirilenko, Boozer, and Williams. Don't forget about the short-lived Jefferson-Millsap tandem. Then it was Gobert and Mitchell.

And now?

The Markannen-Kessler dynasty. I'm super excited.

[FultzNationRISE]

“Walker, Texas Kessler…?”

Does that work?

Im trying to do like a Walker Texas Ranger pun, not sure if it’s really hittin or not.

Let me know in the comments what you think. And be sure to like and subscribe for more puns.

[bison]

They traded the 3rd best player in their history.

:coleman:

He's not even top 10.

Stockton, Malone, Donovan Mitchell, AD, AK-47, Deron Williams, Dr. Dunkenstein, Thurl Bailey, Hornacek, Pistol Pete >>>>>

[Kblaze8855]

Most of those yes. Thurl Bailey no. Thurl made Toni Kukoc look like Charles Oakley sometimes. Soft with a capital “ft”.

[RRR3]

Most of those yes. Thurl Bailey no. Thurl made Toni Kukoc look like Charles Oakley sometimes. Soft with a capital “ft”.
Xiao is ridiculous but Darrell Griffith and Jeff Hornacek certainly aren’t better than Rudy

[Kblaze8855]

Those were the other two I was thinking. DG could be maybe Anthony Edwards level today so potentially better but you get deep in the weeds talking era based potential. Jeff on the Jazz certainly wasn’t playing better or at least with the same role. Phoenix and Philly Jeff?

Closer.

Id actually rather have Rudy than Adrian Dantley I think but I just wasn’t into his ballstopping(though relative to today he was practically an off ball player). And I’m not sure about a 6’5” 18 feet and in post/faceup specialist who wasn’t a great athlete.

And of course Pistol Pete played absolutely no defense but it’s hard to pass on his offensive talents. Teammates really didn’t like him…but teammates don’t seem to love Rudy either.

Pete is definitely a more significant figure in history so I guess it comes down to greatness or “goodness”.

[Kblaze8855]

The Minnesota Star has thoughts:


. Kessler was Connelly's first draft choice, No. 22 overall, and also was included in the trade — a "project,'' was the speculation.As it turns out, Kessler is way more progressed than anyone imagined — particularly anyone with the Wolves. He's pretty much what Minnesota hoped it was getting in Gobert, and making seven (7) percent as much money.
On Monday, Kessler played 31 minutes; he was 9-for-13 from the field and had 20 points, 21 rebounds (nine offensive), four assists and two blocks.
A main reason Kessler didn't have more blocks in Utah's 126-125 comeback win was the Wolves stopped challenging him.
Late in the game, even Anthony Edwards veered off on what he intended to be a trademark drive — the lefthanded finish — when he saw the menace of Kessler near the basket.
Gobert had missed six of the Wolves' 45 games entering Monday, and he left after five minutes because of a sore groin, which presumably assisted Kessler's dominance.
No matter. I'm sticking with this piping hot take: Everything being equal other than age, Ainge wouldn't take Gobert even for Kessler.
And there's a little more than one-for-one for the Jazz:
They get the Timberwolves' first-rounders in 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029 (that one's top-five protected). They also have the right to swap picks in 2026, by when the Wolves should have a strong mathematical chance in the lottery.
Charles Barkley was in the TNT studio Monday and apparently watched enough Kessler moments to offer this opinion: "The Timberwolves made the worst trade in NBA history ... That was so stupid, that trade.''


This could be a slight exaggeration, considering it might be only the second stupidest trade the Wolves have made with Ainge.
And I hope Mr. Ainge can sleep at night, knowing as he does that the Book of Mormon is very clear on thievery, stating:
"He that stealeth and will not repent shall be cast out.''
How could Ainge possibly claim repentance when he did it to us again?

[RRR3]

Those were the other two I was thinking. DG could be maybe Anthony Edwards level today so potentially better but you get deep in the weeds talking era based potential. Jeff on the Jazz certainly wasn’t playing better or at least with the same role. Phoenix and Philly Jeff?

Closer.

Id actually rather have Rudy than Adrian Dantley I think but I just wasn’t into his ballstopping(though relative to today he was practically an off ball player). And I’m not sure about a 6’5” 18 feet and in post/faceup specialist who wasn’t a great athlete.

And of course Pistol Pete played absolutely no defense but it’s hard to pass on his offensive talents. Teammates really didn’t like him…but teammates don’t seem to love Rudy either.

Pete is definitely a more significant figure in history so I guess it comes down to greatness or “goodness”.
Surprised you’re so low on Rudy as a defense guy.

[Xiao Yao You]

It started with AD and Eaton, followed by Stockton and Malone. Next were Kirilenko, Boozer, and Williams. Don't forget about the short-lived Jefferson-Millsap tandem. Then it was Gobert and Mitchell.

And now?

The Markannen-Kessler dynasty. I'm super excited.

Eaton :roll:

[Xiao Yao You]

:coleman:

He's not even top 10.

Stockton, Malone, Donovan Mitchell, AD, AK-47, Deron Williams, Dr. Dunkenstein, Thurl Bailey, Hornacek, Pistol Pete >>>>>

:facepalm

[Xiao Yao You]

Most of those yes. Thurl Bailey no. Thurl made Toni Kukoc look like Charles Oakley sometimes. Soft with a capital “ft”.

he was a small forward who put up 20 a game off the bench. Good defensively with his length. Probably be a 3 point shooting 5 today. Complimented Malone at forward

[Xiao Yao You]

Stockton
Malone
Gobert
Dantley
Maravich
after that you can argue whatever you want. It's the Jazz not the Celtics or Lakers

[Xiao Yao You]

Sloan
Hardy
COTM
Corbin
Layden
Nissalke

as far as Utah Jazz goes. They were close to .500 the last couple years in N.O.

[Kblaze8855]

Surprised you’re so low on Rudy as a defense guy.

I wouldn’t say low…but a lot of the defenders I love so much are also very well rounded. Pippen. KG. AK47 for the subject at hand. I loved Joakim Noah with his playmaking ability. I like Draymond for the same reason. I respect what Mutombo, Gobert, and those types do just they aren’t my preferred type of defense first.

Id take AK47 over Rudy today. I loved that guy. He might have worse impact numbers over the course of a season where eliminating a great deal of drives will show in the stats but he’s gonna be less exploitable game plan wise when I have to play the same team 7 times. Plus I think he’d be a better playmaker than he seemed to be in that era.

I like the guy though. I won’t deny I may have a pro AK bias. I just loved watching him play.

[Kblaze8855]

he was a small forward who put up 20 a game off the bench. Good defensively with his length. Probably be a 3 point shooting 5 today. Complimented Malone at forward

I didn’t say he was a bad player…he just struck me as soft as hell. I hate seeing people his size get bullied and I saw it a few times too many.

That said you’re probably right that he would fit in more today as a small ball center and nobody would need him to own the paint the way we wanted near seven footers to do in his day.