After a rough first full day of free agency, the Los Angeles Lakers bounced back in a big way by making a monster trade. Unfortunately, that trade could age poorly. The Lakers finally acquired center Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz.
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Lakers are acquiring Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz for unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030, sources tell ESPN. Kessler will sign a massive four-year, $130 million deal with the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/rt8b17fEQZ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2026
That move gives them a huge upgrade at center but comes with a massive cost. They were forced to give up their last two remaining tradable first-round picks to complete a sign-and-trade for him.
Now, they will be paying Kessler $32.5 million on average over the next four seasons. While he is among the best rim protectors in the NBA as well as a terrific rebounder, he might not make for the best fits in LA.
The Lakers just made a big Walker Kessler mistake
It's not that Kessler isn't a fantastic player, but he isn't the same type of center that thrives playing alongside star Luka Doncic. Doncic is known for preferring to play with athletic rim-running centers who can finish alley-oops.
Kessler can finish alley-oops, but he isn't the most athletic player. Perhaps he can discover a way to coexist playing alongside an elite passer, but that could cap his offensive ceiling with the Lakers.
Then there is the question of how he'd fare playing against top big men such as San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and the Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic. Wembanyama often obliterates traditional centers who struggle defending again, away from the basket.
Kessler falls into that category since he isn't particularly good defending away from the paint.
The Lakers are now married to a core that includes Walker Kessler
To be fair to L.A., them adding Kessler is a big upgrade over Deandre Ayton, who will now back him up in the center rotation. Turning a weakness into a strength is always a good thing.
Even so, Kessler is an expensive upgrade, one that uses up more than half of their $52 million in cap space. Moreover, by waiting to complete a sign-and-trade, the Lakers missed out on re-signing Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart. They also missed the opportunity to sign a more affordable center, Robert Williams III.
He'd have been a perfect fit with him being an athletic finisher who can knock down the occasional three. Kessler is more durable than Williams, but the point is that L.A. gave up a lot to acquire him.
Now, they have Kessler, no tradeable first-round picks for the next seven seasons, and just two seconds. Therefore, L.A. better know what they're doing, because if they don't, then they are absolutely screwed.
