Jazz predicted to cut ties with $13.3 million All-Rookie in Lakers trade

The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to bolster their frontcourt this summer to support LeBron James and Luka Dončić.

After a postseason exposed their defensive vulnerabilities, the Lakers are aggressively exploring trade options to address their need for a dominant center.

One name from the Utah Jazz has emerged as a prime target, with CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn recently predicting that LA could go after him. Quinn also laid out the pros and cons of this young center's game.

“Pros: The best pure rim-protector that we'll cover, and among the best in all of basketball," Quinn wrote.

"More mobile defensively than he gets credit for. He's so good near the basket that you'd never aim to run a switch-heavy scheme against him, but he can hold his own if need be. An absolute monster of an offensive rebounder who's plenty good on the defensive glass as well. Has much, much more room to grow offensively. Except perhaps his brief overlap with Mike Conley as a rookie, he's never had even an average starting-level point guard. He has a wide catch radius for lobs, but he can also put the ball on the deck a bit. He has a strong sense of timing as a roller, capable of slowing down to suit coverage or speeding up to seal an opposing big to create a driving lane for his teammate. There's even been some thought that he could eventually develop a 3-point shot, though that hasn't manifested yet. He's incredibly cheap this season, the last of his rookie deal, at around $4.9 million. That would also give him a low cap hold as a 2026 restricted free agent, and the Jazz have enough financial flexibility that they could absorb a bit of salary in a trade if need be."

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The player, of course, is Walker Kessler.

"Cons: The Jazz are notoriously demanding in trades," Quinn continued.

"The price in the past has been at least two first-round picks, which the Lakers don't have. Could one first, three swaps and the removal of protections on the 2027 pick the Lakers already owe them even be enough? Does Dalton Knecht get it across the finish line? Kessler probably costs every trade chip the Lakers have, and even then, it's not certain that he’s gettable. He's a bad free-throw shooter at 53.7% for his career. His block rate also decreased a bit with heavier minutes a season ago. He's never played in the playoffs. Turns the ball over more than you'd like out of a center.”

Kessler’s 132 dunks in fewer than 60 games last season and his synergy with playmakers like Dončić could unlock new offensive dimensions for the Lakers. His $4.9 million salary is a steal, too.

The trade hurdle for Kessler would be steep. As alluded to by Quinn, the Jazz’s asking price—previously two first-round picks—may require the Lakers to offer their 2029 and 2031 picks, pick swaps, and possibly rookie Dalton Knecht.

Despite his poor free-throw shooting and lack of playoff experience, Kessler’s defensive impact and rebounding prowess could elevate the Lakers to championship contention.

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