The Los Angeles Lakers still have several gaps to fill in their roster, having not made significant moves this offseason. So far, the Lakers have only added rookies Bronny James and Dalton Knecht through the 2024 NBA draft. The Lakers will need to make some strategic additions in the coming weeks to strengthen their lineup.
Isaac Gutierrez of Bleacher Report argues that securing a backup center should be a top priority for the Lakers. In a recent live stream, Gutierrez highlighted Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler as a potential trade target to support Anthony Davis.
“If you’ve watched Team USA, you’ve seen how dominant Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo are together defensively,” Gutierrez noted on July 23. “Scoring against that duo is tough. The Lakers have made Anthony Davis a full-time center for several years, partly due to his diminished jump shot. But playing him next to another center for 12 minutes a game could be beneficial. The Lakers have a significant gap at backup center, which was their biggest weakness last season. They need someone to maintain defensive integrity when Davis rests, and Walker Kessler could more than fill that role.”
Kessler’s Trade Value Might Be High
Acquiring Kessler may require the Lakers to trade valuable assets, which could be detrimental if a more crucial player becomes available later.
The Lakers currently hold only two tradeable first-round picks, so preserving these for a potentially more impactful trade could be wise.
According to Ian Begley of SNY, the Utah Jazz are seeking at least a first-round pick for Kessler. Danny Ainge, the Jazz’s CEO of Basketball Operations, has a history of securing favorable trade deals.
“Teams in contact with Utah say the Jazz want at least a first-round pick for Kessler in recent trade discussions,” Begley reported on July 8.
While not all first-round picks are equal, Begley reported on July 9 that two first-round picks have recently been offered to the Jazz for Kessler. These could be late first-round picks or a combination of a pick and a swap.
“Teams offered two first-rounders to Utah recently, but the Jazz declined,” Begley said.
Why the Lakers Could Benefit from Kessler
Having a player like Kessler could significantly reduce the burden on Davis. While Davis has excelled at the center position, he was arguably the best power forward in basketball when he played there full-time.
Kessler, 22, saw a reduced role last season, starting in only 22 of 64 games compared to 40 of 74 the previous year. Despite this, he remained an effective rim protector, averaging 2.4 blocks per game.
Named to the All-Rookie team, Kessler averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game, finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting.
Adding a player of Kessler’s caliber would give the Lakers lineup versatility with two big men. Although he would likely be a backup due to both his and Davis’ limited shooting range, Kessler could start alongside Davis in certain matchups, particularly against strong centers like Nikola Jokic in the Western Conference.
