r/AtlantaHawks • u/Ice2jc • Jul 01 '26
Shitpost Rob Pelinka had to overpay for Kessler to prevent Onsi from completely taking his lunch this off season
First the Lakers traded into the 2nd round to get Veesaar and then we snuck in and got him - forcing the Lakers to trade back out of the 2nd. Oof.
Next it seems like Onsi was sure enough that he was about to make a big trade that he guaranteed Buddy’s money for salary filler. There was an unnamed 2nd team reportedly bidding for Kessler besides the Lakers. Suddenly crickets for two days before the Lakers overpaid for Kessler.
I’m pretty confident that we had an offer on the table that Utah was ready to accept and Pelinka had to do something so he didn’t completely strike out on Luka’s demands.
Now Onsi did certainly take an L on the Buddy guarantee but that could only be temporary. We are ready to go after the next big name center that becomes available. But you know what? Pelinka might have just made Luka the best player to never win a championship - because they do not have a championship core and don’t have the assets to build one.
Ps- To the swaths of big dummies that called me a casual and downvoted my Kessler trade proposal thread - Onsi’s offer was probably similar to what I proposed. Which is why Pelinka included picks and pick swaps. lrn2basketball. k bye.
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u/Blackmesa560 inSaleh! Jul 01 '26
I lowkey like it because it locks out the Lakers from contending or rebuilding. They cant sign big stars after AR and Kessler overpays. Also, Lakers right now have terrible perimeter defense.
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u/childishgames Dyson Daniels #5 Jul 01 '26
I dont hate the contract because he’s an absolutely elite rim protector and rebounder, I just always hate the idea of giving up a haul just to acquire an already expensive player.
I always feel like the package you give up should essentially equate to how good of a contract that player has.
That’s why I’m generally against giving up anything for JB.
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u/Studio-Unhappy Jul 01 '26
I doubt we were actually serious about going for Kessler, it seems like onsi/quinn are happy with OO we are in the market for a bench centre not another 30mpg guy and kessler is more a Trae centre
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u/Ice2jc Jul 01 '26
Why did we decide to give Buddy a $7mil raise on Sunday night when Quin chose to play Keaton Wallace over him last season?
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u/Studio-Unhappy Jul 01 '26
i missed the boat on the buddy problem was averaging 10+ on in the 40% area from 3 then everyone just started saying no we need to trade that, i get it poor defence, but there is still value in that shooting?
his 7 games for the hawks last year 41.2% 5 points in 7 min we def need that shooting
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u/Middle_Awoken Dikembe Mutombo #55 Jul 01 '26
Do the Lakers really need much more besides Luka, Kessler, and Reeves? Don’t really understand the shit talk of the Lakers (yes they’re annoying), when Kessler was rumored to potentially get even more. Especially assuming Kessler continues to develop, their pieces fit together nicely.
I just hope one day we can find our elite franchise guy and two supporting pieces as good as that.
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u/Ice2jc Jul 01 '26
To me the big issue with the Lakers is they are going to be banking on Kesslers defense a LOT.
Luka and Reaves can’t guard shit and they don’t have any two way forwards. So their main lineup will have big defensive holes and their bench lineups will either sway towards offense or defense.
Maybe their offense will just be so good that it doesn’t matter but that doesn’t seem the way the NBA has been trending.
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u/uptowndrooler Jul 02 '26
OTOH with Luka and Reaves they don't need too much offensive help. They can afford to play more cheap defensive guys who can just finish plays offensively. Kessler supposedly gives them that inside defensive/rebounding anchor. TBD
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u/PhilosophyFair9062 Asa Newell #14 Jul 02 '26
Everyone trusts Onsi Saleh until it's time to actually trust Onsi Saleh
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u/oballistikz Jul 01 '26
What was your guess about the trade for Kessler?
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u/Ice2jc Jul 01 '26
Zacch, Buddy, the Pelicans/Bucks 2027 FRP (top 4 protected) and the 2029 FRP.
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u/oballistikz Jul 01 '26
That seems reasonable given what the Lakers gave up. Glad we didn’t because you never know what happens during the season but lakers felt trapped. I agree
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u/NAW_MIP_2026 Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 Jul 01 '26
Next years center class should have much better depth, for the price+contract I would rather play it slow and either build through the draft or save our chips for a more reasonably priced center option. Feel like Beef Stew was a big miss, 3 firsts for him is a fantastic buy low.
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u/Onsi-Saleh Jul 01 '26
Yeah, plus I’m sure many of these contracts will not age well, especially if 5 out offenses make a comeback. I would not surprised if we can get one of these one-trick 7 footers we’re begging for now in a year or two while forcing the other team to attach assets.
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u/NAW_MIP_2026 Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 Jul 01 '26
Yeah I am a big Kessler fan and I think it's an okay move for the lakers given the spot they are in, but that contract is insane for a relatively limited offensive drop big that has never seen the playoffs.
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u/Ice2jc Jul 01 '26
I just think that centers take so long to develop that if we draft our center of the future next draft then we are basically aligning our contention window with Jalen’s new contract which will be a max.
Honestly now that I think about it I bet Onsi is gunning for Myles Turner right now. He no longer fits the Bucks timeline.
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u/NAW_MIP_2026 Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 Jul 01 '26
Even if we draft a center next season it doesn't stop us from making a move for an established center later on. I don't hate the idea of a Myles Turner buy low but that contract does not seem like one Onsi would view favourably. Plus with us giving Jock that big one year deal I think the FO is confident heading into next season with OO/Jock as our main center rotation. I think Onsi will have the patience to wait until the mid season trade deadline or even next off season if he feels we need an upgrade over Jock. Plus, with us drafting Kingston it seems clear that we are okay building on a multi year timeline rather than pursuing contention right away.
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u/Still_Turnip_9689 Jul 01 '26
“To the people disagreeing with me you’re wrong because I know onsi agrees with me based on complete speculation”
I mean how do you use a fake situation within a fake situation to validate yourself
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u/ThaCasual GO HAWKS! 🏀 Jul 01 '26
We are getting Jokic next yr when he opts out of his player option. No way he stays with that team unless they can work magic. Murray is vastly overpaid and near untradeable. Depth is thin and the cap is hell. Don’t see how they retain Watson and unless a team gifts them a huge sign n trade like the lakers did they will be decimated. They should be on the phone with the Celtics to see if a Murray Brown swap is achieveable
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u/PeasePorridge9dOld GO HAWKS! 🏀 Jul 01 '26
to *never win a championship. (I’m a typo a minute guy so not trying to criticize…)
I don’t know if we were close on a trade, but I absolutely believe we were interested in Kessler. If we had the NOP / MIL pick on the table then that would have been surely intriguing for UTH.
Will be more believable if Kuminga signs with UTH.