Lakers Land Walker Kessler In Massive Trade With Jazz

The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the most fascinating teams to track during the early part of the NBA offseason, especially because of all the roster decisions that still have to be made.

Not only has it been announced that LeBron James will not be returning to the Lakers next season, but there are several other internal free agents who are likely to depart as well. Conversely, Los Angeles has been linked to plenty of players in free agency and on the trade market.

And on Wednesday morning, a bombshell dropped.

The Lakers traded for Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade deal that lands him in Los Angeles on a four-year, $130 million contract. In return, the Utah Jazz receive unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, along with first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030.

So the Lakers didn’t just spend big on a long-term deal with Kessler. They also gave up significant draft capital, and essentially the only draft capital they really had left.

That’s what makes this such a massive swing.

To be at his best, Luka Doncic needs a dominant defensive center who can also finish plays on the offensive end. When he took the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals, he had both Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II in the frontcourt. Kessler is better than both of those players.

He gives the Lakers a real defensive anchor, a strong rebounder and a lob threat who can immediately make life easier for Doncic.

There’s still more work to do in Los Angeles. The Lakers have to keep filling out the roster, especially with so much change happening around Doncic. But the big man they’ve been searching for is officially in place.

Walker Kessler is now a Los Angeles Laker.