Before the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Dorian Finney-Smith and got caught up in this season’s trade rumors, they were linked to Walker Kessler. The Utah Jazz are yet to play ball this season, but as they continue their rebuild, it is expected that at least one veteran will be traded away.
The Lakers desperately need some help in their frontcourt, and Kessler, who is still on his rookie deal, would be an ideal fit.
The third-year center is averaging career-highs in points and rebounds with 10.2 and 10.9, respectively. On top of that, he is second in the league in blocks per game behind only Victor Wembanayama with 2.7. He could certainly give the Lakers’ 21st-ranked defense a boost.
According to recent reports, the Lakers and Jazz were close to making a deal over the summer, which would have given LA some help before they kicked off their campaign.
“Sources say the Lakers and Jazz got fairly close to a deal over the summer, but talks this year have been pretty inconsistent,” Clutchpoints’ Anthony Irwin wrote Sunday. “One issue Utah has pointed to is that sending Kessler to pair with Davis would improve the Lakers front court not just this year, but, importantly, moving forward.”
“Utah holds the Lakers’ ’27 first, top-four protected pick. Danny Ainge has expressed concern that Kessler would stop the Lakers from fully bottoming out as Davis ages and after LeBron James retires.”
Even if the Jazz aren’t eager to engage in trade talks, the Lakers could look elsewhere. Kelly Olynyk, Jonas Valančiūnas and even Jusuf Nurkić are all possible candidates to bolster the Lakers’ frontcourt.