The Lakers have spent months looking for a real answer at center, and Walker Kessler is suddenly sitting right in the middle of that search.
Los Angeles tried to solve the spot last season by trading for Mark Williams, only to have the deal collapse after Williams failed his physical. Since then, the Lakers have been patching things together with Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes at the five. Both have had their moments, but neither has done much to convince anyone they’re the long-term fix.
That’s why 2026 has been framed as the summer when LA would finally get aggressive about building around Luka Doncic. The Lakers are expected to have meaningful cap space and draft capital, and even after re-signing Austin Reaves, they should be in the mix for plenty of names.
Kessler is the one that keeps coming back.
Utah has turned away LA’s interest in the 24-year-old big man before, rejecting multiple trade offers and making it clear they view him as part of their future. That stance makes sense. Kessler has already carved out a reputation as one of the NBA’s top shot blockers, while also giving the Jazz strong rebounding and efficient finishing around the rim.
His season ended early because of a shoulder injury, but he’s now fully healthy. The problem is the money. Utah wants him back, but the two sides are far apart in contract talks, and that opens the door for the Lakers.
LA has the cap space to put together a massive offer sheet, and Kessler’s game fits neatly next to Doncic. He’s also just 24, which keeps him on the same timeline as Doncic and Reaves. In one move, the Lakers would stabilize the center position and still leave room to chase shooting and wing depth.
If the offer gets big enough, Utah may be forced into a tough call. Letting Kessler walk would sting for a Jazz team expected to compete in the West next year, but it would be a major win for the Lakers.
What once looked like a fantasy now feels very real. With free agent negotiations set to open on Tuesday, this could move fast and give the offseason an immediate jolt.
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But Kendrick Perkins did not sound sold on the idea that Doncic and Reaves can carry that burden deep into spring. The former NBA champion and ESPN analyst questioned whether the pairing can hold up defensively when the game tightens in the playoffs, a concern that only sharpens the pressure on Los Angeles as it keeps building around the duo and trying to prove this new direction can survive the moments that matter most. [Read more 🡒]