After entering the offseason needing a major upgrade at center, the Los Angeles Lakers lucked into former number one overall pick Deandre Ayton becoming available. That gives them a starting-caliber big man with plenty of upside if he dedicates himself, but a long-rumored Lakers trade target could soon become available.
According to Utah Jazz insider Tony Jones, center Walker Kessler isn't expected to reach an extension with the team ahead of the rookie extension deadline. That means that he will become a restricted free agent after next season.
That is a potentially big development for the Lakers, who have previously had interest in him. While the Lakers have been linked to Kessler consistently, they have balked at the Jazz's trade demands. Now, if Kessler ends up hitting restricted free agency, they could make another run at him.
The Lakers may make another run at Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler
The Lakers could have up to $96 million in cap space next summer. They could use some of that to bring back Ayton, but they could also make a run at Kessler. He'd be an interesting restricted free agent target.
Restricted free agents have limited markets, with players such as Cam Thomas, Jonathan Kuminga, and Quinton Grimes being living proof. Centers are also less valued than other positions, since they tend to have longer careers, and teams often only play one at a time, meaning there's no scarcity of big men.
That could further hurt his market value and make him a potential target for the Lakers. A starting-caliber center will run teams around $20 million, and while he is an elite rim protector and rebounder, he may not be a full-time starter.
That might put his value around $15 million a season, though the Lakers could try to pay back the Jazz for them playing hardball by signing Kessler to a bigger than expected offer sheet.
The Lakers could screw over the Utah Jazz as payback
That could force Utah to either match the offer or keep Kessler on a larger contract than they wanted him on. Or, they could let him leave and have him join the Lakers.
That might work out for the best for Los Angeles, with them needing a center for the future. They also likely won't have many players to spend that massive amount of cap space on, and signing Kessler could be an investment in case he continues to develop.
Even if Ayton works out, he may not be a 30-minutes-per-game type of center. The Lakers will also need at least two good centers to defend the onslaught of big men in the Western Conference.
Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Davis, Alperen Sengun, etc. The point is the Lakers need reliable big men, and Kessler could be on their list of offseason targets if he hits restricted free agency.