Potential center trade targets post Walker Kessler trade

The Utah Jazz came out of the Walker Kessler trade with a fresh new collection of trade assets and a nice TPE (traded player exception) that could be in the $15-$16M range. That means they can use the TPE to make a trade for a player that makes that amount of money, or less, and not have to send any players. It may be that other teams would want to get players instead of just picks, but this TPE, along with the Jazz’s group of young player contracts, gives the Jazz a lot of options. For this article, here are some players that Utah could target with their TPE and use picks to bring onto the team.

I loved Khaman Maluach in the draft with his combination of size, athleticism, and upside. In college, he showed the impressive size, mobility, and athleticism that made him a top-ten pick. In the NBA, the Suns have not trusted putting him on the floor, and he’s spent a lot of time in the G-League developing. In the G-League, Maluach has averaged 15.8 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 3 blocks in 29.8 minutes per game.

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Because of Utah’s TPE, they could trade one of their picks to the Suns, with whom they already have a relationship, without having to move any players. The Suns might want one of Utah’s young assets like Brice Sensabaugh or Kyle Filipowski, but Khaman Maluach would be a great gamble.

Now, the Suns might not want to get rid of the massive Sudanese center, but if they have any sort of willingness to move on from him, Utah should jump on that right away.

Kel’el Ware

Ware was a core part of the Giannis trade to the Miami Heat. He’s a young prospect but will be up for a new contract next season. Utah would find itself in the same boat as it was this season with Walker Kessler, but might be more willing to pay Ware, given his potential. Ware is the stretch center teams look for when building the coveted 5-out offense. Ware is not the consistent, high-level defender the likes of Chet Holmgren or a healthy Kristaps Porzingis are, but he has shown signs. Would the Bucks like to improve the return on Giannis by trading Ware for a Jazz pick? It’s not clear if the Bucks are done or what exactly their plan is now that Giannis has moved on.

Ware could be the stretch center that could unlock everything the Jazz are doing. The only issue is the contract. As I said, Ware may garner a lot of interest in the upcoming restricted free agency. Utah could be in the same boat they were just in with Kessler. But if Utah can turn Ware into something special, a player that is the keystone of a 5-out offense that decimates opposing defenses, he would be worth the money that Kessler wasn’t.

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Goga Bitadze

Bitadze’s raw stats may not blow you away (career: 5.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists at around 15 minutes per game). He’s also a player who comes off the bench. But if you look at the advanced stats with Bitadze, they jump off the page. At Dunksandthrees.com, Bitadze is elite at two things: scoring efficiently and blocking shots.

Bitadze is a veteran center who has proven effective off the bench. Would he sustain his play in a starting role, playing 28 minutes a night? He could be a wildly effective player for Utah and one that could do everything Kessler did, but at a much more reasonable cost.

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All of these options would take a trade from Utah, and the cost might be more than Utah is willing to pay. The reality is that if the Lakers could have made these trades, they likely would have already done them. But if the Lakers were dead set on Kessler, a player they’ve been linked to for years, maybe the Jazz can make one of these moves happen?

It’s worth diving into, and the Jazz likely already have an idea of these players’ availability. But if I were the Jazz, I would be watching these players closely as the season goes along. You never know when one of these teams will make a move to fill a need the Jazz might be able to meet.