Check my math on this: There are two sides to every NBA trade, four sides if you consider both teams — for and against — doing the deal, and multipliers on top of those.

When the Jazz decided it was in their best interests to trade Walker Kessler to the Lakers on Wednesday for a couple of unprotected first-round draft picks and a couple more first-round trade swaps, it seemed they were exacting a whole lot for a center who often shined for them in the past — when he played. The complication was, as demonstrated this past year, Kessler had a tendency to get hurt. He didn’t just miss games, he missed an entire season.

Moreover, there was the argument, as there so often is, over money. The restricted free agent wanted more of that over a shorter span than the Jazz at this juncture were eager to pay. Reports say the Lakers will shell out $130 million through four years for the 7-foot-2 center who has never been an All-Star.

Luka Doncic wanted a serviceable big man on his side — and he got one. Serviceable, not great. As everyone around here knows, Kessler can block shots, can rebound, particularly at the offensive end, and can score the ball in his limited ways.

And a debate can be had regarding Kessler’s happiness playing — or not playing, depending on his form — in Utah. Despite stories emerging about his differences with Jazz coaches and disputes with Jazz execs, it’s a good bet that had the Jazz shoveled money at him in the amount to his liking, on his preferred schedule, Kessler would have absolutely loved playing here, just as his now-infamous social media post stated a few days back.

Either way, the Jazz unloaded him for their future picks, picks far enough out that some of us might hope we’re still alive by the time they can be properly utilized, bringing positive results in Utah. Unless, of course, they are used by the Jazz as bait in trades that lure in competitive help sooner, not later. One other consideration in the Jazz’s advantage is the money they save by not paying Kessler, reserving that for other key talent, as in Keyonte, they’ll have to pay in the not-too-distant future.

But — and it’s a big but — there is the matter of the present.

You don’t have to be a basketball brainiac to understand that the Jazz roster is not as good today as it was yesterday, regardless of how long today — and a few more todays — would have lasted. Jusuf Nurkic is solid, Jaxson Hayes is what he is.

Still ….

If Kessler could find a way to stay healthy, including him on what would have been a current Jazz roster/rotation that included Darryn Peterson, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Keyonte George and Ace Bailey, among others, would have been a formidable team, even as stacked as the Western Conference is. And speaking of the West, an uninjured Kessler would have provided for the Jazz a presence in their lineup that could have, on good nights at least, slowed a certain big in San Antonio that creates nightmares for just about every other contender.

And that’s what the Jazz might have been had Kessler stuck around. If that sounds too optimistic, maybe it is, maybe it isn’t.

But now, it doesn’t matter.

Thing is, difficulties in working through future team money issues or not — and it would have been more difficult — Jazz fans have been waiting to watch and cheer for the best team they can throw their love around for years now. And now was — was — an opportunity for them to do and have that.

Future draft picks are valuable and all, one day, some day, that’s understood. But those who care deeply about the Jazz have been supportive and patient — ever since Stockton and Malone had their run back in 1997 and 1998 — always looking ahead, always told to look ahead by their team for a brighter day that’s out there, somewhere. Promise.

Hmm.

Perhaps this Kessler trade will work well for the Jazz by way of the haul they’re making — one day, some day, out there somewhere. But Jazz fans might be among those who agree with what the old football coach, George Allen, used to say.

“The future is now.”

For the Jazz, it seems, the future is always the future. It’d be nice for all of Utah if for once it was what old George said it is.