Jazz trade proposal helps their future & Lakers’ present
In a recent report from Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, he suggested the Lakers may look to target the Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton this season as acquisitions for a title push. Let’s take a look at what a deal like this might look like for both sides.
The TradeThe Lakers get: Collin Sexton, Walker Kessler, and a 2028 1st-round draft pick, top 10 protected.
The Jazz get: Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, a 2026 1st-round draft pick top 10 protected, and a 2029 1st-round pick with a top 10 protection.
The Lakers are desperate for one more title in the twilight years of LeBron’s career, and this is where the Jazz can take advantage. They can take on the Lakers’ overpaid assets while giving up players that may win them a few more games than they have the last two seasons.
Why the Jazz say yes
The Jazz gain a draft pick in this trade just based on the raw numbers, but if they make this trade, they have no plans to keep Vanderbilt or Vincent. Both those players add value to the bench of a contender looking to go all in, so the Jazz can send them off to other contenders for even more picks.
The Jazz’s goals for this season should be to lose as much as possible and accumulate as many picks as possible. This will offload their veteran talent which would likely result in more wins if they were on the team, and give them an additional 1st rounder in the coming years.
Better yet, knowing the Lakers’ desperation, those picks the Jazz get may pay off bigtime down the line when LeBron decides that he’s done.
Why the Lakers say yes
The Lakers are backed up to the second apron right now and would love some roster flexibility. This trade would create over $300k in cap space, which isn’t much on the surface, but acquiring Sexton would allow them to move D’Angelo Russell and his expiring contract of $18 million.
Vincent contributed very little to the Lakers last season and showed very little reason to deserve his contract. Vanderbilt has provided a defensive spark for the Lakers but not a whole lot else.
Kessler and Sexton also provide what the Lakers need to take the next step. Sexton plays well as an off-ball shooting guard and would thrive next to LeBron on the court. Kessler provides a rim protector at the center position and allows Anthony Davis to move to the power forward, a position he prefers to play.
