Walker Kessler commerce grades for Lakers, Jazz after LA sends large picks haul to Utah

The Los Angeles Lakers are totally dedicated to constructing round Luka Doncic with LeBron James departing in free company. Doncic has been clamoring for the staff so as to add a proficient younger heart, and the Lakers delivered on Wednesday afternoon with an extremely daring deal that mortgages 4 years of draft management for an efficient if typically injured large man.

The Lakers acquired Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz for unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Kessler, who was a restricted free agent, has agreed to a four-year, $130 million cope with the Lakers that features a participant possibility within the closing season.

This can be a gorgeous value to pay for an enormous man at first blush. The Lakers now have a defensive anchor to play alongside Doncic and Austin Reaves, whereas the Jazz recouped an incredible quantity of future draft capital to proceed their rebuild. Let’s grade this deal for each side.

Lakers grade for Walker Kessler commerce

Kessler is likely one of the higher rim protectors within the NBA when he’s wholesome. He simply hasn’t been wholesome fairly often. Kessler solely performed 5 video games final season as he recovered from a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He’s solely met the NBA’s 65-game threshold for award eligibility one time in his four-year profession, and that got here as a rookie. Utah’s tanking shenanigans contributed to Kessler lacking video games, however he’ll want to remain on the court docket and play at an elite degree for this deal to work out for the Lakers.

Kessler has two principal strengths as a participant: rebounding and blocking pictures. He averages 4.5 blocks per 100 possessions for his profession, an elite quantity. He additionally led the NBA in offensive rebound fee again within the 2024-25 season, when he posted a wild 16.6 p.c o-board fee in 58 video games. He’s a improbable defensive rebounder as effectively, which performs into his popularity as one of many recreation’s prime defensive bigs.

Kessler’s offense is a a lot greater query outdoors of producing further possessions on the glass. He’s a complete non-shooter from three-point vary with 17 made threes in 201 profession video games, nevertheless he did make six threes in 5 video games final season earlier than the damage. He’s a profession 54 p.c free throw shooter, making him one of many NBA’s worst from the foul line. He can end dunks and putbacks inside, and that’s about it. He hasn’t added a lot worth as a passer all through his profession, both.

That is the Lakers’ large swing to construct a championship staff round Luka. Los Angeles clearly wanted a powerful defensive heart to pair with two weak defenders in Doncic and Reaves, and so they paid a large value to get one. Often a commerce like this returns a celebrity. As a substitute, the Lakers acquired somebody who matches the staff effectively however doesn’t have the manufacturing you sometimes affiliate with the sort of commerce.

Massive males are getting large offers throughout the NBA this summer season, and Kessler’s is probably the most jarring but. The four-year, $130 million contract feels honest for each side. The quantity of draft capital given as much as get him is what’s so stunning.

The Lakers approach overpaid for my part. It might work out for them as a result of Kessler is actually good at defending the rim and cleansing the glass if he stays wholesome, however it’s laborious to see how this elevates LA into championship competition, and so they don’t have many property left to maintain constructing the staff.

Jazz grade for Walker Kessler commerce

Speak about a sell-high commerce. It’s superb the Jazz have been in a position to get the sort of return for Kessler after he solely performed 5 video games final season. He’s not an elite heart for my part, however the Jazz actually bought elite worth again for him.

Utah is about up so effectively for the longer term now. They’ve No. 2 general draft decide Darryn Peterson as their new franchise star alongside Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Keyonte George, and Ace Bailey. I actually don’t assume dropping Kessler makes Utah that a lot worse for subsequent season given all their entrance court docket depth. They’re now stocked with property to proceed to construct out the staff as Peterson reaches his prime.

That is a tremendous transfer for the Jazz. They robbed the Lakers blind. If Peterson reaches his ceiling, Utah shall be set as much as be a Western Convention contender for years to return. Their ascent ought to begin this season with what seems to be like a play-in staff at the least.