{"id":203290,"date":"2026-07-01T12:03:30","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T16:03:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=203290"},"modified":"2026-07-01T12:03:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T16:03:30","slug":"lakers-land-walker-kessler-in-sign-and-trade-stunner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/07\/01\/lakers-land-walker-kessler-in-sign-and-trade-stunner\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers Land Walker Kessler in Sign-and-Trade Stunner"},"content":{"rendered":"

After <\/span>years of eyeing him from afar<\/span><\/a> and multiple failed attempts to pry him from Utah, the Los Angeles Lakers are acquiring standout big man Walker Kessler in a blockbuster sign-and-trade. According to <\/span>ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania<\/span><\/a>, Kessler will put pen to paper on a four-year, $130 million contract. Meanwhile, LA is sending two unprotected first-round picks (2031, 2033) and two first-round pick swaps (2028, 2030), absorbing his salary into their reported $52 million in cap space.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lakers Land Walker Kessler in Sign-and-Trade Stunner<\/h2>\n

Despite missing the majority of this season due to left shoulder surgery, <\/span>Kessler<\/span><\/a> was effective in the five games he played, averaging 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks while shooting 70% from the field. In four seasons with the Jazz, the former 22nd overall pick put up 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Lakers, per sources, get the center pairing for Luka Don\u010di\u0107 that they wanted, navigating the restricted free agency waters at a steep cost. But they get their center of the future. https:\/\/t.co\/cKG8SOIkeX<\/a><\/p>\n

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) July 1, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n