In search of a center this offseason, the Lakers could eye one of the top young bigs in the league in Walker Kessler of the Jazz.
Some time ago, Walker Kessler was seen as one of the prime trade targets for the Lakers. In that moment, Anthony Davis was asking for a center and Kessler felt like a perfect complement in the frontcourt.
The trade for Luka Dončić changed everything for the Lakers, but their need at center still exists. While Kessler might not be as ideal an option as he once was, he’s still a young, defensive-minded center who would make sense for the Lakers.
To that point, in a recent radio interview with ESPN 700, Dave McMenamin of ESPN reiterated the Lakers’ interest in Kessler while noting there is nothing imminent either.
“The only thing on that front…is that Walker Kessler remains a name the Lakers are intrigued by. Whether that will lead to any sort of deal, obviously last year, the asking price was too steep and, obviously, the Lakers ended up pivoting those assets that they were considering moving to the Jazz to get Kessler in order to do the Luka trade. That came off the table after the Luka trade. If they do revisit it, that remains a player that the Lakers feel could fit the void that they have at center. I’m not reporting anything’s moving towards [a deal] or picking up steam or anything like that, but Kessler remains on the Lakers radar.”
At this point, it feels unlikely that the Lakers will be able to trade for Kessler for two main reasons.
First, they don’t have the assets remaining. Dalton Knecht and one first round pick are the two things that would be most enticing to the Jazz and that’s not going to be enough to pry Kessler away.
Even if they were openly shopping him, other teams could bring a better trade package to the table than the Lakers. And since they’re not shopping him, they’re going to need to be blown away by a trade and this isn’t a package that’ll do it.
Second, it’s unlikely Danny Ainge and the Utah front office will be eager to help the Lakers after the Luka trade. Not only did Utah help the Lakers land a hesit of a deal, they were left in the dark until it was too late to do anything.
Are they then going to turn around and give the Lakers the center they desparately need? It feels like an unlikely thing to do under Ainge!
Unless circumstances change again, then, it’s hard to imagine Kessler being a realistic trade option. But, as we saw this season, circumstances can change abruptly.
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