I’m not so sure…Markkanen is an all star talent that slots in really nicely at PF for them and Kessler replaces the rim protection on a cheap rookie deal. In fact, Memphis would have a really solid, cheap C rotation in Kessler and Edey which gives them excellent rim protection for 48 min a night.
Offensively, Morant, Bane, and Jackson doesn’t seem like it has quite the offensive firepower to be a championship contender but Morant, Bane, and Markkanen seems like enough. Then consider how much more the floor would be spaced swapping Jackson for Markkanen which just opens up the lane that much more for Morant to attack.
I think MEM would definitely consider a Markkanen/Kessler package.
Coking back to
@CarlosBob wider trade idea, this framework is actually something I’ve been playing around with myself.
With DeRozan now on the roster, it likely is going to push Murray to play PF which gives us a very undersized frontcourt from a length perspective (DeRozan-Murray-Sabonis). It’s also not a particularly good defensive frontcourt and provides very little rim protection. If we can swap Murray for a player who…
- Has excellent size, length, and athleticism at the PF spot
- Is an elite & transformative defender and rim protector/help defender
- Can still provide some floor spacing
- Can provide some solid secondary scoring behind Fox & DeRozan
- Is still relatively young and can grow with our core
…we have to do it, right? A core of…
PG - Fox / Monk
SG - Ellis / Carter
SF - DeRozan
PF - Jackson Jr / Lyles
C - Sabonis
…has a chance to be a top offensive team (if the decrease in shooting/floor spacing turns out to be a non issue) while also having a chance at being a top 10 defensive team due to us now having a player like Jackson who makes a massive defensive impact.