The Los Angeles Lakers are acquiring Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz for unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030, sources tell ESPN. Kessler will sign a massive four-year, $130 million deal with the Lakers.
This is big for Lakers. They needed a better center in the West.
Kessler’s $130M deal includes a player option in the fourth season, plus a full trade kicker
Feel like this is an asset overpay for Kessler especially with that contract structure.
If you have Luka and Reaves as your backcourt you need a great rim defender. Did the Lakers overpay, yeah probably. But, I just spent all season riding the Deandre Ayton rollercoaster and I’m ready to get off lol
Yeah the fit is good and I looked at the available centers after commenting and realized there’s not many options available that are a good fit so it’s a bit more understandable.
Really all in on this core with the PO and trade kicker though.
I really haven’t watched him play much honestly. He was injured basically all of last season, the season before that he averaged 12.5reb 2.4blk, if we get numbers like that from a 25 y/o center then its worth it. Dudes basically Rudy but he can catch a basketball at that point lol