Markkanen returns from a lower back injury, and in addition to starting, his minutes will not be restricted (the same goes for reserves Jordan Clarkson and Isaiah Collier). Sexton will retain his place in the starting lineup while Williams continues to fill the void left by the injured Taylor Hendricks.
Kessler has been everything that managers thought he could be this season. This was his third game this season with at least 12 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks while making over 80% of his shots. Kessler only provides value in the traditional center categories, but he can truly dominate them. He has been a third round producer so far this season as the permanent starter, which is what managers have been asking for since he was a rookie. As long as Will Hardy doesn't mess with the rotation, Kessler should be a star for the rest of the season and beyond.
After scoring 10 points in Utah's first two games of the week, Kessler was far more productive on Saturday. He established a new season-high with 18 points while matching his previous highs in rebounds (14) and blocked shots (five). Kessler's exceeding his Yahoo ADP (86.8) by a considerable margin, but he's doing so for a team that's now 0-6. Utah will continue its road trip with three games in Week 3, beginning with Chicago on Monday.
Collins has been solid in his reserve role despite coming off the bench. He's reached double figures and tallied one steal and one blocked shot in every game, which is why Collins has been a 6th-round player. The 28 minutes he played against the Spurs were a season-high, with Lauri Markkanen's absence being a factor. There was a brief period during the second quarter in which Collins was on the court with Walker Kessler, so that's something to keep an eye on if Markkanen remains sidelined.
It's likely going to be at least December or more likely 2025 before we see any meaningful trades.