After a quick exit last month in the NBA playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers need to have a good offseason as they try to build around the trio of LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves.
The Lakers will begin their offseason journey this week with the 2025 NBA Draft. Los Angeles has the 55th overall pick in the second round, which could net them a young player whom they can develop in the NBA G League.
However, most Lakers fans’ attention is on free agency and the trade market, as the Lakers need a center who can protect the rim and also be an offensive threat. The free agent market isn’t appealing, so the Lakers’ best bet might be acquiring a center via trade, despite not having a lot of draft capital.
That said, Los Angeles has reportedly made an offer for a young center playing in the Western Conference.
Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune said on a recent episode of the Locked on Jazz podcast that Utah has been presented with an offer for Walker Kessler and added that the Lakers have been continuously pursuing the young center.
“I think there’s been an offer presented for Walker Kessler. And, certainly the Lakers have shown significant interest all the way back to the deadline, certainly continuing now,” Larson said (h/t Nelson Espinal of Los Angeles Lakers on SI).
“And him being their future of the center, giving up multiple picks to get there, that is on the table right now. I don’t know if the Jazz take it. Certainly, they haven’t so far.”
It’s not shocking to anyone that the Lakers have not given up their pursuit of Kessler. Given his age and skills, he would be the perfect center to play with Doncic and James.
Last season, the 23-year-old center averaged a double-double for the first time in his career, with 11.1 points and 12.2 rebounds, including 4.6 offensive boards per game. Kessler had a 130 ORtg (offensive rating) and a 115 DRtg (defensive rating).
He would be a huge upgrade over what they got this season from Jaxson Hayes and Alex Len, the latter of whom was a disastrous pickup. That said, the Jazz don’t have to move Kessler yet, as he’s still under contract for another season.
If the Lakers are desperate for Kessler, they’ll have to get creative with the trade package, which means they might need to include Dalton Knecht.
