1. IMO, the Jazz were trying to pump up Clarkson's value in order to trade him, but it unfortunately, didn't work out. Jazz were not trying to make the playoffs anyway.

2. Kessler played almost the exact same minutes last year as he did the previous year and averaged nearly as many minutes as any of the starters, so Kessler really didn't get "benched". His stats declined almost across the board too. He played fewer overall minutes but that was due to injuries.

Also, Kessler development (or lack thereof) is Kessler's fault not anyone else's. His development got hurt by "playing (or not)" on the US team at the FIBA World Cup where he averaged 7 min, 3.5 pts, 2.0 rbs, and 1 blocked shot per game. He has virtually no offensive game and is limited to protecting the paint on defense. He can't guard opposing big men that can shoot the three and if he tries, they blow right by him for layups. I like Kessler a lot but he needs to improve more this summer especially on his offensive game like FT shooting for starters.