Nearly a week after reports revealed the Lakers’ interest in Utah’s Walker Kessler, there is new buzz of a potential offer for the Jazz’s promising center.
Lakers Rumors: Potential Offer for Walker Kessler Revealed
LA’s Trade Chips
According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick and John Hollinger, the Lakers’ offer for Kessler is centered around starting point guard D’Angelo Russell and draft capital. Amick and Hollinger also revealed the verdict on the rumored proposal.
“While our Jovan Buha recently reported the Lakers have interest in Kessler, a Jazz source indicated the possible framework of a deal — D’Angelo Russell and multiple first-round picks — would not be of interest. As noted above, though, there could be other Lakers iterations that might be of more interest.”
Though not explicitly stated, the “multiple first-round picks” in question may be LA’s selections in 2029 and 2031. The debate over whether to include those picks has been a hot-button issue, with the organization reluctant to include them unless it’s for a legitimate difference-maker.
Kessler has begun to prove himself in his fourth season. In five games so far, the 23-year-old has averaged 8.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks. He has also shot 58% from the field on 6.2 attempts, but only 57% from the free-throw line.
With the Jazz in the middle of a rebuild and Kessler becoming extension-eligible this summer, fans are taking a wait-and-see approach when it comes to the big man’s future in Utah. His promising growth, along with his standout play to begin this year, has rightfully put him on the radars of more established contenders. However, he has also made a clear case to stick around and help lift Utah out of purgatory.
Potential Kessler Trade Remains Complex
Russell’s name is often the first to pop up when discussing LA’s potential trade assets. As great as he played in previous regular seasons, his lack of defense and disappearance in the playoffs hinder his case to stay. The fact that Austin Reaves has supplanted him in the scoring hierarchy also doesn’t help (and neither does Reaves’s rumored “untouchable” status).
This is where trading for Kessler becomes even more complicated. The Jazz recently exercised Kessler’s rookie scale team option on Oct. 21. He’s making $2.9 million this year and—assuming there’s no extension—$4.8 million the following year. The Lakers have several players making similar money, but Kessler’s trade value is definitely more than a low-tier benchwarmer and some draft picks. The Lakers could still ask for Kessler as part of a larger deal, but the Jazz may not be receptive to the idea, considering they basically gave LA Jarred Vanderbilt last February. Vando has since turned into one of the purple and gold’s best defenders alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and he’ll be a key part of the Lakers’ defense when healthy.
While Kessler appears as a perfect fit next to the Lakers’ stars, there are several roadblocks to acquiring him, none of which will get resolved anytime soon. As a result, fans will have to wait a little while longer before Davis and James receive any more help in the frontcourt.
