El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers player Walker Kessler (14) during media day at UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Lakers have faced criticism for going all out for Walker Kessler in the summer, but Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman thinks it was a smart move. Before Adelman’s Nuggets faced the Lakers in a preseason clash on Friday, he spoke about the problems teams will face now that Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have Kessler by their side.
“It’s just a constant thrust on the rim,” Adelman said, via Lakers Nation. “It’s a problem. Obviously, that’s how Luka likes to play. You have to get overaggressive with your low man. Because Luka is a problem, obviously, and so is Reaves. That’s the problem, and what that does is create a secondary problem. You have to over-rotate to guard these guys.
“I think their offense is gonna be really, really good this year,” Adelman continued. “They all fit each other really well. And I thought Kessler in Utah, you saw signs of this already, especially when the guys would actually play, their main guard… On the other end, [Kessler] is a problem defensively. I think they were smart to know what they wanted, and they went and got it.”
The Lakers sent unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, as well as first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030 to the Utah Jazz for Kessler. They also gave the 25-year-old a four-year, $130 million deal as part of the sign-and-trade.
Doncic had pushed hard for the Lakers to get Kessler, and they made an offer the Jazz could not refuse. It’s a big investment, but a rim-runner and a defensive anchor like him is exactly who you want next to the Slovenian.
Kessler made his Lakers preseason debut on Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors and impressed. He put up 11 points (4-6 FG), nine rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block in 16 minutes.
Doncic actually didn’t play against the Warriors, but he did against the Nuggets. It was the first game that he, Kessler, and Reaves all started together, but it didn’t quite go according to plan.
The Nuggets spoiled the party by taking down the Lakers 121-106. The Big 3 didn’t quite deliver on their collective debut.
Doncic had 15 points (4-10 FG), four rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block. He was a little inefficient and also turned the ball over five times.
Kessler was very inefficient, finishing with six points (2-8 FG), six rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two blocks. He was up against three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and appeared to be a bit rusty.
As for Reaves, he put up 19 points (5-11 FG), five rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Like Doncic, he was careless with the ball, recording six turnovers.
There is no reason to sound the alarm over this, of course. These preseason games ultimately do not matter, and these three will also take a little time to be fully in sync with each other.
Adelman thinks the Lakers’ offense is going to be really good, and former NBA player Kendrick Perkins believes they will be the best offensive team in the league. If the defense is any good, they’ll be very tough to beat.
The Lakers finished their preseason with a 2-3 record following this loss and will now turn their attention to the season opener against the Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.