Despite the identity of the Lakers undergoing a massive recent change, one of the players most consistently linked to the team in the trade market has been Walker Kessler.
The Jazz big man was once seen as the perfect complement to Anthony Davis and can now be viewed as the lob-catching, defensive anchor in the paint for the Luka Dončić version of the team.
The assumption, however, was that, with Kessler being a restricted free agent this summer, it would take a big offer sheet to lure him away from Utah. However, that may no longer be the case.
In a surprising bit of reporting on Monday night, Sam Amick of The Athletic revealed that Kessler and the Jazz front office are not seeing eye-to-eye and the big man might be making plans for his next team.
Kessler, the 24-year-old who was taken 22nd overall out of Auburn by the Memphis Grizzlies before his rights were traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves and eventually the Jazz in 2022, was already known to be frustrated by Utah’s choice not to offer him an extension last summer. And now, with the Jazz choosing to leverage the realities of restricted free agency against him as a way to minimize his market, sources say he is strongly considering the prospect of a basketball future outside Utah.
It wouldn’t take much to already link the Lakers to Kessler, given their history. On top of that, though, J. Kyle Mann of The Ringer appeared on Zach Lowe’s podcast on Tuesday and connected the two parties yet again.
“I think you could see some teams across the league who are in need of maybe an asset that be ‘distressed’ that they maybe think could perform what they might end up having to pay for him. I’ve heard teams like the Lakers kicking [his name] around.”
When Kessler is healthy, he’s been one of the league’s best young rebounders and defenders. He would be a natural fit with the Lakers in their search for a big man of the future.
However, injuries have been a problem for him in his young career. Last season, he appeared in just five contests before undergoing surgery on his torn labrum. In the 2024-25 season, he played in just 58 games. However, the Jazz have been one of the most egregious tankers in the league in the last few seasons and a lot of those missed games came in the second half of the season, so that could be the reason for him missing games.
As it stands, the Jazz front court is already crowded with Kessler, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen. That comes before the potential addition of AJ Dybantsa or Cam Boozer at the top of the 2026 NBA Draft, too.
It’s hard to know what a deal for Kessler would require, particularly if he wants to leave. The Jazz still hold the cards in this situation, but it would be in their best interest to try to acquire an asset in a trade, especially given how many forwards and centers they already have on the roster.
With the draft quickly approaching, it could be something to monitor.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
Read the full article here