The Lakers spent the summer trying to make one thing clear to Luka Doncic: this roster is being built around him. And if the latest reporting is any indication, one of the biggest names he wanted in the fold was Walker Kessler.
NBA insider Iztok Franko said Doncic was heavily involved in the push to land the center, writing, “Kessler was the franchise center Doncic wanted so badly, and from the people I’ve spoken to, I can confirm he pushed hard for this move,”
That tracks with the kind of player Doncic needs beside him. His offensive production speaks for itself - career averages of 33,5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game on 47.6% shooting and 36.6% shooting from three - but the Lakers know his success also depends on what happens behind him. Rim protection, rebounding, and easy finishes around the basket matter just as much as shot creation.
Kessler checks those boxes. At 7’2″ and 240+ pounds, he gives Los Angeles the size and length at center that can anchor the paint.
Last season, though he was limited to five games, he posted 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.4 steals while shooting 70.3% from the field and 75.0% shooting from three. He’s also only 24, which leaves plenty of room for more growth.
The price was steep. The Lakers gave up four future draft picks to get him, and the deal also locks in $130 million over the next four years. That leaves the team with less flexibility and ties up most of its salary between three players.
Still, the front office clearly viewed the move as worth it because of what it means to Doncic. He signed that extension last summer, but he could be back on the market as soon as 2028, and the Lakers know they have to prove they can win multiple titles before then.
This was only the opening move. Los Angeles still has a long climb ahead, especially with the Thunder and Spurs pushing in the West and the Larry O’Brien trophy in 2027 far from guaranteed. But the Lakers believe they’ve taken a meaningful step, and if they keep adding around the core, they may be able to build something real.
At the very least, this summer has given them a chance to keep Doncic locked in for the long haul. And after the moves they made, that alone makes the offseason a success.
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For Lakers fans, it is mostly administrative. For anyone around the Luka Doni orbit, it is the kind of small transaction that gets noticed because of the names attached to it, especially with Dudley having moved on from the Lakers and into coaching after his retirement. The list also included a handful of other familiar veterans, a reminder that teams sometimes spend as much time untangling old rights as they do chasing the next move. [Read more 🡒]