Lakers might trade star guard to Jazz for 'best case' $13.3 million center, per writer

The Los Angeles Lakers’ 2025-26 championship hopes will plummet if they fail to address their frontcourt void in the summer. 

In Lake Show Life’s Svyatoslav Rovenchuk’s eyes, the Lakers could land an ideal Anthony Davis replacement by trading their 6-foot-5 star guard to the Utah Jazz. 

“It's about that time of the year to cook up mock trades,” Rovenchuk wrote last Friday.

“Here is the first of many (Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, and a 2031 first-round pick to the Jazz for Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, and Jordan Clarkson). If the Lakers were interested in building up a more balanced roster that would not be as top-heavy, the Utah Jazz are certainly the team to call.”

“In a best-case scenario, the Lakers walk away from this deal with a new starting center, and two veteran pieces that can play strong supporting roles for this team. After struggling to find more than five reliable players in the 2025 postseason, it's not a bad approach for Los Angeles.”

“The Jazz would hopefully be sold on Reaves' upside enough to consider him, the 2031 first, and a couple of expiring contracts as ample return for a good haul going back the other way. A career year in Utah could allow AR15 to get his pay day too.”

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Kessler is built to assist a championship contender. 

The Auburn product can execute the pick-and-roll to perfection, run the floor effectively in transition, succeed in one-on-one low-post situations, and swat layup and dunk attempts at a high rate. 

Kessler averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game during his third season in the big leagues. 

Kessler isn’t a top-tier big man in the NBA yet, but his undeniable potential suggests he could take a giant leap toward stardom alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James in Los Angeles.

Reaves, like Kessler, should feel encouraged after his stellar 2024-25 campaign. 

Many doubted the undrafted No. 3 scoring option’s ability to continue his rapid NBA ascension. However, in the regular season, Reaves ensured that his naysayers had no choice but to applaud his efforts on the offensive end. 

The 27-year-old averaged 20.2 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game, shooting 46.0% from the field and 37.7% from deep. 

However, Reaves wasn’t the same dynamic weapon in the postseason, as his 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per contest on less encouraging shooting splits (41.1% from the field and 31.9% from deep) didn’t get the job done against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round.

A Kessler and Reaves swap would be a solid exchange for the Lake Show.

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