Walker Kessler is already imagining what life looks like alongside Luka Doncic, and the Lakers’ new center didn’t hide his excitement during his introductory press conference.
Kessler said he has never shared the floor with a point guard like Doncic, pointing to the way the star guard changes everything around him.
“He has such a big presence on the court,” Kessler said, via Sports Illustrated. “He makes every guy around him better… I’ve never played with a point guard of that kind of size and stature. It’ll be a lot of fun.”
For Kessler, the fit starts with the dirty work. He said he wants to help Doncic by setting solid screens, protecting the rim and taking pressure off the team on defense. He also brought some good news on the shoulder injury that limited him to five games last season.
“It feels better than it’s ever felt in my life,” Kessler said. “It’s been cleared.
Feels strong. Feels mobile.”
Elsewhere around the league, Gary Trent Jr.’s new four-year, $64 million deal with the Bucks is still drawing attention. Tre Allen of Sports Illustrated questioned whether Milwaukee went too far after Trent put up just 8.1 points last season, and he compared the contract to several other expensive Bucks moves that didn’t work out.
There’s another way to look at it, though. Milwaukee may see the contract as a payoff for Trent taking below-market deals over the past two seasons, while also giving the team a chance to keep his Early Bird rights.
In Cleveland, the conversation has shifted to a possible reunion of a different kind: Kevin Love and LeBron James. But one Sports Illustrated writer, Steve Kubitza, doesn’t think the Cavaliers should go that route.
Kubitza argued that Cleveland should focus on younger depth if James returns, rather than bringing back Love, who turns 38 in September and is currently a free agent.
Love is still one of the most beloved players in Cavaliers history after helping the franchise win the 2016 championship. Even so, any chance of seeing him back in Cleveland appears tied to whether James decides to return as well.
In Other News...
Kenny Atkinson Just Gave Cavaliers Fans A Reason To Believe Again
A fresh wave of speculation has put Cleveland back in the middle of the conversation after LeBron James let the Lakers know he will not return for his 24th NBA season. The possibility of a reunion has naturally stirred up Cavaliers fans, and reports tying James Harden to a deal that could help clear the way have only added to the intrigue around what might be coming next.
Kenny Atkinson did little to cool the buzz, instead leaving the impression that something significant could be brewing for the roster. The exact move remains unclear, and James next stop is still unresolved, but the tone around Cleveland has shifted enough to make fans wonder whether this summer could still deliver a familiar face and a major jolt to the teams future. [Read more 🡒]
Why Kenny Atkinson Thinks Cavs Rookie Could Be More Than A Flier
Kenny Atkinson did not hide his enthusiasm when the Cavaliers landed Meleek Thomas in the second round of the NBA draft, and the early Summer League returns have only added to the intrigue. Through two games, Thomas has looked like more than a developmental add-on, putting up points while showing enough all-around activity to make Clevelands staff keep watching closely.
What stands out most for Atkinson is the rookies defensive upside, which could be the clearest path to real minutes on a roster that will demand reliability on both ends. His college coach has made a similar point about Thomas length and room to grow physically, and if that side of his game translates the way Cleveland believes it can, the rookie might end up being a lot more than a simple flier. [Read more 🡒]
This Cavs Reunion Trade Idea Feels Built For LeBron Rumors
A Bleacher Report trade idea has Cleveland back in the kind of reunion chatter that always seems to follow this franchise when big names start moving around the league. The proposal lands as a multi-team swap with Miami and Dallas in the mix, and it would ask the Cavaliers to part with a real chunk of frontcourt and backcourt depth in exchange for a splashy name that instantly changes the conversation around the roster.
The problem is the basketball case is hard to square with what Cleveland already has built, especially with the cost attached to the deal and the questions that come with the player at the center of it. Even with the LeBron-adjacent buzz hovering around the concept, the fit looks awkward on paper, and the Cavs would have to decide whether the nostalgia and star power are worth the hit to their current structure. [Read more 🡒]