This season, the New Orleans Pelicans in the West and the Orlando Magic in the East have garnered sympathy from many fans. Despite a grand offseason of recruitment operations, they ultimately succumbed to injuries. At present, these two teams have divergent directions for future development. The former is actively putting All-Star players Ingram and CJ McCollum on the trading block and attempting to listen to offers for Zion, aiming to start the team's rebuilding plan this summer; as for the Magic, they have shown remarkable resilience, with players like Banchero, Wagner Jr., Wagner Sr., and Suggs delivering impressive performances before being plagued by injuries.
The inspiring story of victory from adversity did not favor Magic head coach Mosley, who led a depleted squad to a crushing defeat at the hands of the Western Conference's bottom-dwelling Jazz. Considering the team's severe issues, perhaps the result of losing can be accepted, but the process was somewhat embarrassing. Even with center player Bitadze, they could not change the fact of being completely overwhelmed in the paint. In this game, Jazz center Kessler was unstoppable, single-handedly wreaking havoc on the Magic's interior. He played only 28 minutes but contributed 10 points, 17 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block. Among the 17 rebounds, 6 were offensive boards. He used his proactive hustle to win numerous ball possessions and second-chance scoring opportunities for his team.
As a 23-year-old third-year rookie earning less than $3 million, with the constant worry of being traded, he still managed to average a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds. Moreover, he maximized the influence of a blue-collar center, achieving a shooting percentage of 71%, comparable to quality big men like Gafford and Allen, successfully establishing his value. Perhaps it is this dedication that has shaken the plans of the team's general manager, Anji, who had decided to tank. According to Los Angeles Times reporter Dan Woike:
"With the opening of the trade window, multiple teams in the league have shown great interest in acquiring Kessler, but NBA insiders believe he will not appear in any realistic trade discussions."
Although Kessler can be a valuable asset for championship-contending teams, Jazz's Chief Executive Officer of Basketball Operations and Deputy Director Danny Ainge is known as a "tough character" with high demands. A core young player and multiple first-round draft picks may not satisfy his requirements. Instead of giving him away for nothing, it might be better to keep him in the lineup to assist Markkanen in their pursuit of the top draft pick. This decision is understandable, but it will cause significant trouble for the Los Angeles Lakers. After acquiring Finney-Smith, the issue at the No. 5 position remains unresolved, and the team continues to place more pressure on Anthony Davis. If this situation persists, there is a high likelihood of injury concerns for him.
Considering the current trade market, centers are in abundance. Besides Vucevic from the Bulls and Valanciunas from the Wizards, Robert Williams from the Trail Blazers and Nurkic from the Phoenix Suns are potential trade targets. However, according to Lakers beat reporter Dan Woike, General Manager Pelinka is not in a rush to seek trades. The arrival of Finney-Smith has fundamentally changed the team's defensive tactics, making them faster, more athletic, and energetic. At the same time, management is waiting for the return of rotation players Vanderbilt and Vincent to closely observe their post-injury integration with the team before making further arrangements. It must be said that Pelinka is also trying to abandon the plan to reinforce the center position, after all, the space available for him to operate is too limited.