5 players Blazers could acquire in Lillard deal to stay competitive

No. 4 player Blazers acquire in Lillard trade: Walker Kessler

The Jazz would surely prefer to keep Walker Kessler, but we’re talking about Damian Lillard. If Utah really wants to make a push for Lillard, it could come at the cost of Utah’s best young player. And yes, even though Kessler is fresh off his rookie season, he would absolutely help the Blazers win games next year.

Kessler finished third in Rookie of the Year voting, which honestly doesn’t reflect how impressive he was as the heir to Rudy Gobert in Utah. Kessler’s defensive analytics were off the charts and he averaged 2.3 blocks in only 23.0 minutes per game. He’s already one of the most prolific rim protectors in the NBA.

The Blazers’ defense was in a world of hurt last season as Jusuf Nurkic’s sharp decline infected the frontcourt. Replacing the aging Nurkic with Kessler — not to mention Grant’s length and versatility on the wing and Scoot Henderson’s ferocious on-ball guard defense — could transform Portland very quickly into an above-average defense.

Kessler doesn’t just block shots either. He shot 72 percent from the field and dominated on finishes at the rim. His size, vertical threat, and soft touch make him a deadly scorer in the restricted area. He doesn’t stretch the floor yet, but Kessler is a paragon of two-way efficiency and he’s a good passer for his position too, so there’s untapped offensive upside in a bigger role.