Here’s what an NBA insider thinks the Jazz want from the Lakers for Walker Kessler

Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to trade for a legitimate center, and they have been linked to a number of such players on the trade market. One player they’re reportedly interested in is Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler.

The Jazz reportedly may want an extra first-round draft pick from L.A. in return for Kessler, as well as a removal of the lottery protection it placed on a 2027 first-round pick it sent to them in 2023.

That 2027 selection was sent to Utah as part of the trade in February 2023 that took Russell Westbrook off the Lakers’ hands and netted them D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley. That trade instantly ignited a late-season run that took them to the Western Conference Finals, but by some point last season, it became clear that they needed a couple more pieces to take the next step.

They have lacked a truly serviceable backup 5 for the last few years. Bigs such as Thomas Bryant, Damian Jones, Wenyen Gabriel and Mo Bamba simply weren’t capable of filling that hole, and as a result, L.A. has lacked rebounding and rim protection whenever Anthony Davis has been on the bench or injured.

This season, Jaxson Hayes, who returned on Thursday after being out for several weeks with an ankle injury, and 2022 second-round draft pick Christian Koloko have attempted to fill that void. But many feel a true center who can bang defensively, especially against the NBA’s good and great centers, is the team’s biggest need.

Kessler, 23, is in his third pro season and has already become an outstanding rebounder and shot-blocker. So far this season, he’s averaging 10.2 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks a game. The Jazz are one of the worst teams in the league, and thus the thinking is that they could be sellers ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

The Lakers have been reluctant to part with any of their future first-round draft picks for a while. But if the overall price is right, doing so may be appropriate for a young workhorse such as Kessler. He’s seven feet tall and 245 pounds, and perhaps his ceiling is significantly higher than what he has shown.