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The Utah Jazz received plenty of criticism for refusing to give Walker Kessler the contract he wanted.
Just over one month after trading him ... even those covering his new team are providing more evidence that Danny Ainge and company made the right call.
Lakers Nation released the first installment of its top 100 NBA players entering the 2026-27 season Thursday, ranking players Nos. 76-100.
Where did Los Angeles' shiny new $130 million center land?
No. 94.
And before dismissing the ranking as one outlet's opinion, take a look at some of the players surrounding him ... and what they're getting paid.
Ayo Dosunmu came in at No. 85 after signing a five-year, $112 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Coby White ranked No. 93 after signing a three-year, $74 million deal with Charlotte, while San Antonio's Julian Champagnie landed at No. 96 after receiving three years and $45 million.
Mitchell Robinson sits four spots below Kessler at No. 98. He signed a three-year, $47.4 million deal with Boston.
Then there's Kessler.
Four years. $130 million.
That's an average annual value of $32.5 million for a player Lakers Nation itself believes enters next season behind 93 others across the league.
And Los Angeles didn't simply have to pay him.
The Lakers sent Utah unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, plus first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030 before Kessler agreed to his new contract.
That's the part of this deal that continues to make Utah's decision look better.
Kessler is a very good player.
He averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in 2024-25 before a shoulder injury limited him to five games last season.
Los Angeles also has reason to believe playing alongside Luka Dončić could unlock more from its new center.
And maybe it will. But Utah didn't have to gamble $130 million to find out.
Instead, the Jazz turned a player they weren't comfortable paying into two completely unprotected first-round picks and two swaps from a franchise whose long-term outlook is difficult to predict.
And apparently, skepticism over Kessler's value isn't confined to Salt Lake City.
Lakers Nation praised his rim protection and rebounding while suggesting Dončić could unlock additional offensive efficiency.
It still ranked him 94th.
Rankings are subjective, and Los Angeles certainly didn't make its trade based on where Kessler would appear on a preseason top-100 list.
But the comparison reinforces the same question that's followed the deal since it happened:
Was Kessler worth $130 million and four pieces of first-round draft capital?
Utah decided its answer was no.
So far, Ainge hasn't been given much reason to regret it.
Continue reading...
Just over one month after trading him ... even those covering his new team are providing more evidence that Danny Ainge and company made the right call.
Lakers Nation released the first installment of its top 100 NBA players entering the 2026-27 season Thursday, ranking players Nos. 76-100.
Where did Los Angeles' shiny new $130 million center land?
No. 94.
And before dismissing the ranking as one outlet's opinion, take a look at some of the players surrounding him ... and what they're getting paid.
Ayo Dosunmu came in at No. 85 after signing a five-year, $112 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Coby White ranked No. 93 after signing a three-year, $74 million deal with Charlotte, while San Antonio's Julian Champagnie landed at No. 96 after receiving three years and $45 million.
Mitchell Robinson sits four spots below Kessler at No. 98. He signed a three-year, $47.4 million deal with Boston.
Then there's Kessler.
Four years. $130 million.
That's an average annual value of $32.5 million for a player Lakers Nation itself believes enters next season behind 93 others across the league.
And Los Angeles didn't simply have to pay him.
The Lakers sent Utah unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, plus first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030 before Kessler agreed to his new contract.
That's the part of this deal that continues to make Utah's decision look better.
Kessler is a very good player.
He averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in 2024-25 before a shoulder injury limited him to five games last season.
Los Angeles also has reason to believe playing alongside Luka Dončić could unlock more from its new center.
And maybe it will. But Utah didn't have to gamble $130 million to find out.
Instead, the Jazz turned a player they weren't comfortable paying into two completely unprotected first-round picks and two swaps from a franchise whose long-term outlook is difficult to predict.
And apparently, skepticism over Kessler's value isn't confined to Salt Lake City.
Lakers Nation praised his rim protection and rebounding while suggesting Dončić could unlock additional offensive efficiency.
It still ranked him 94th.
Rankings are subjective, and Los Angeles certainly didn't make its trade based on where Kessler would appear on a preseason top-100 list.
But the comparison reinforces the same question that's followed the deal since it happened:
Was Kessler worth $130 million and four pieces of first-round draft capital?
Utah decided its answer was no.
So far, Ainge hasn't been given much reason to regret it.
Continue reading...
