This offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers must address a glaring hole at the center position.
As reported by Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report, one young big man could be the answer to the Lakers’ issues at the position, potentially reshaping their roster for a championship push alongside Luka Dončić and LeBron James.
“(Utah Jazz center) Walker Kessler has ranked in the 95th percentile or better in block rate among big men in each of his first three seasons,” Hughes wrote.
“That kind of interior presence would transform a Los Angeles Lakers team that ranked 21st in blocks per 100 possessions and 25th in opponent field-goal percentage at the rim last year. In addition to protecting the rim for a team that doesn’t currently have a starting-caliber center on the roster, Kessler could juice the offense with his league-leading 4.6 offensive boards per game and dangerous lob-catching skills.”
“Luka Dončić thrives when he has a vertical spacer at the 5, and Kessler’s 132 dunks last season were the most of any player who logged fewer than 60 games,” Hughes continued.
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“Kessler is still on his rookie-scale deal, and the Utah Jazz shouldn’t be in the business of shipping out young players who’ve already proved themselves as starters. But if the Lakers were willing to give up a first-round pick, a pick swap and Dalton Knecht for Mark Williams, they shouldn’t have any problem surrendering at least that much for Kessler.”
Kessler, 23, could be a perfect fit for a team needing a mobile big to complement Dončić’s playmaking. Kessler’s ability to finish lobs would synergize with Dončić’s vision, reminiscent of the Slovenian superstar’s success with vertical spacers in Dallas.
The Lakers’ pursuit of Kessler isn’t new—they’ve been linked to him since last offseason, with talks reportedly getting somewhat close before stalling due to Utah’s steep asking price. The Jazz, in rebuild mode, value Kessler’s youth and cost-controlled contract. However, the Lakers’ willingness to offer significant assets could meet Utah’s demands. A package including Knecht, a 2029 first-round pick, and a 2026 pick swap could be enticing, especially if Utah sees Knecht as a future building block.
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