With the NBA Draft just weeks away, trade rumors will begin to pick up, with the latest involving the Utah Jazz. The Jazz are reportedly shopping center Walker Kessler, according to Jazz beat writer Sarah Todd. If that is the case, then the Los Angeles Lakers will certainly be interested.
The Lakers being linked to Kessler seems almost like a running joke, with them having pursued him for years. Part of the reason he has been on their radar is that he is still on his rookie-scale contract. That makes him far easier to trade for than a typical starting-caliber center.
Not only that, but Kessler is just 23 years old and is already an elite defensive player. Players that young and cheap don't grow on trees. If they were to land him, he'd be a potential part of their long-term core, given his age and value on the defensive end.
Can the Los Angeles Lakers trade for Walker Kessler?
Cost will play a big role in whether the Lakers can acquire Kessler. Jazz GM Danny Ainge is notoriously difficult to trade with. That's considering that he has a track record of demanding top dollar for his assets.
He may even demand more from the Lakers just for being the Lakers. That doesn't help Los Angeles, but they could offer Dalton Knecht, an unprotected 2031 first, and a 2030 and 2032 pick swap. The Lakers could also remove protections from the 2027 first-round pick they traded to the Jazz back in 2023.
It remains to be seen if that is enough to meet Ainge's asking price. However, if he agrees to send Kessler to the Lakers, then that would be a game changer for L.A.
Here's my position as the Lakers:
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) June 10, 2025
I'm open to giving up basically all of the first-round capital (2031, removal of protection on 2027, swaps in 2030/32).
HOWEVER, for that price, I'd want Utah to take on the Vanderbilt contract to potentially help the Lakers open the full MLE. https://t.co/TQ0CyYG9Ih
Especially if the Lakers can offload Jared Vanderbilt in a potential deal, as Yahoo Sports' Sam Quinn suggests. As Quinn points out, that would open up access to the full mid-level exception.
In that case, they could add a backup center such as Clint Capela, Brook Lopez, or Luke Kornet. That would help the Lakers solve their biggest issue, which is at center, with Kessler being their defensive anchor, while a big man such as Lopez or Kornett could add a floor-spacing element on offense.
All in all, with the Jazz open to offers on Kessler, the Lakers should try yet again to acquire him. Whether that ultimately happens will be up to the Jazz, but he'd be a great fit for the Lakers.