Once again, the Philadelphia 76ers will be on the lookout to find a quality backup big man for Joel Embiid this offseason. With the former Most Valuable Player expected to remain in the uber strict load management program the team has installed for him, the front office cannot afford to let the current status quo run with respect to their center situation off the bench.
To that effect, one perfect trade target they could have pursued aggressively is Jazz big man Walker Kessler. The 24-year-old center has become widely coveted in the trade market, and with his camp reportedly not happy with how Utah has been handling his restricted free agency situation, he would have been a spotless player for the 76ers to target. Unfortunately, he is simply out of the team's spending power.
One of the best rim deterrents in the entire league, Walker is expected to command significant offers as a restricted free agent. More than a handful of teams have already been rumored to show interest in striking a deal for him since last summer, and Philadelphia is not a part of that list simply because the front office cannot afford him.
Walker Kessler would have been the perfect trade target for the 76ers if he were affordable
The 76ers sorely lacked defensive rebounding and rim protection over the last couple of seasons, and those are the exact areas where Kessler especially shines. He has turned in 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game for his career –– impressive figures given that he has only registered an average of 25.3 minutes a night in his four years as a pro.
Kessler's imposing presence at the rim particularly stands out. He is a mobile big man who can stay on his feet in space, but his ability to alter shots in the paint is easily his best trait. He does not foul much either, which makes him a much more efficient and disciplined rim protector than, say, Adem Bona.
At just 24, Kessler would have given tha 76ers a long-term solution at the center position. Embiid will be missing a considerable number of games moving forward out of design and necessity, and the former would have been a massive luxury to have for the team as someone who can fill-in for the All-Star in the starting five and spell him off the bench. A player of his caliber would have incentivized the 76ers staff to further lighten Embiid's load.
Unfortunately, the 76ers are strapped for money that they cannot possibly afford Kessler without further muddling up their already top-heavy payroll. As such, it is incumbent upon the front office to get the team much cheaper options at center.
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