The Lakers make the Jazz a Godfather offer that includes Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, and their 2027 and 2031 unprotected first round picks for Walker Kessler, Jordan Clarkson, and Utah two second round picks.
The Jazz have refused to consider trading Walker Kessler unless they get an offer they can’t refuse. Because of his age, size, salary, and skillset, Kessler is clearly the Lakers’ best option to be their starting center of the future. Utah reportedly wants a minimum of two picks for Kessler. The Lakers’ offer arguably is equal to four picks since the Jazz could easily flip Reaves and Knecht for two more first round picks to go with Lakers’ 2027 and 2031.
We saw the Orlando Magic use the exact same strategy of making a Godfather offer to the Memphis Grizzlies to turn Desmond Band from untouchable to tradable. That is exactly what the Lakers need to do.
Identify the one player who’s critical for your next season. For the Lakers, that player is 23-year old Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler, who averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in 30.0 minutes per game.
While the Lakers also need to upgrade their perimeter defense against guards and wings, their top priority was to trade for a dynamic young starting center to fix their rim protection and rebounding problems.
There is no other available starting center other than Kessler for whom the Lakers would consider including Austin Reaves and there is probably no way Austin and Danny Ainge would trade Kessler without getting Reaves.
The Lakers cannot start another NBA season without a legitimate starting center. Nothing is more important for L.A. this summer than trading for the ‘right’ center. Winning the offseason starts with Walker Kessler.
WHY GO ALL-IN ON WALKER KESSLER?
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Walker Kessler is not only the ‘right’ player for the Lakers to risk going all-in on and offering Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, and two first round picks but his low salary also leaves room to trade for two other new starters.
Even with Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, one first round pick, and four pick swaps, the Lakers simply don’t have enough tradable contracts and/or draft capital to swap for three new starters unless one’s on a rookie deal.
Aside from playing the center, Walker Kessler is still on his rookie contract, which means the Lakers would still have enough room under the first tax apron to trade for two new starters earning around $25 million per year.
While the Lakers would like to keep Reaves, they also understand that he’s likely the key trading chip to get the Ainges to agree to trade Walker Kessler to the Lakers at all. Reaves can be flipped for more than a first round pick.
And Walker Kessler is clearly the best fit as starting center available to the Lakers right now. His elite size, rim protection, lob threat, and rebounding will quickly help them dramatically improve at both ends of the court.
The Lakers cannot open the 2025–26 season without a legitimate starting center, not after failing to fix their center rotation the last four years and having their asses handed to them by the Timberwolves in the playoffs.
With LeBron eligible to become a free agent this summer and Luka slated to do the same next summer, Rob Pelinka is facing extreme pressure to find both legitimate starting and backup centers before the season starts.
Trading Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, and two first round picks for Walker Kessler is the Los Angeles Lakers going all-in to start Luka’s purple and gold era and end LeBron’s with their Celtics-matching 18th NBA championship.
TRADE FOR TWO CHAMPIONSHIP DEFENDERS
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Once the Walker Kessler trade is complete, the Lakers will still have $50 million in matching salaries and four first round pick swaps to use to trade for former championship defenders Andrew Wiggins and Marcus Smart.
To compete for the NBA championship, the Lakers must surround their two superstars Luka Doncic and LeBron James with three elite starters who are legitimate two-way players who can’t be played off the floor in the playoffs.
That means the Lakers need to replace Jaxson Hayes with a starting center who can defend the rim, Rui Hachimura with a starting small forward who can defend wings, and Austin Reaves with an alpha dog 3&D POA defender.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ proposed trade for Andrew Wiggins would send Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, and their 2026 and 2030 unprotected first round pick swaps to the Miami Heat for Andrew Wiggins.
Wiggins won an NBA championship ring with the Warriors in 2022 and would be a perfect fit on Lakers as starting small forward. Besides shooting 37.4% on 5.8 threes per game, Wiggins remains an elite wing defender.
The other proven championship caliber perimeter defender the Lakers should trade for is Marcus Smart, who’s now stuck on the rebuilding Wizards and could be acquired for Hachimura, Milton, and a pick swap.
Marcus has struggled with injuries since being traded and needs to be on a contending team where his great heart, hustle, and elite defense matters. Smart still posted 9.0/2.1/3.2 with 1.1 steals in just 20.0 minutes per game.
Besides the mega trade for rim protecting center Walker Kessler, the Lakers transform their starting lineup into a defensive juggernaut by trading for defense-first two-way wing Andrew Wiggins and guard Marcus Smart.
That’s a terrible trade Tom. The Bane trade kind of set the bar for an Austin trade. They are the same size, play the same position and their stats are nearly identical. Bane shoots 39% from 3 to Austins 37% but that is about the only difference. Bane is only slightly better defensively. Keep in mind that the Griz defense was one of the worst in the league. The Magic sent KCP and Cole Anthony, two good defensive players and 4 first round picks and a swap. You want to send Austin, Kneckt, and our first for Kessler. I know you believe in over paying but come on man. We have to do better in a Austin trade then that. Try looking for a 3rd team that could use Austin before giving up most of our few assets for one guy.
LMFAO. You would have to wait until hell freezes over before any team is going to offer what the Grizzlies got for Desmond Bane for Austin Reaves. No team is going to even give the Lakers 2 first round picks for him.
While I would not have given 4 picks and a swap for Bane, he’s a far more valued player than Reaves, a proven high volume, high percentage 2-point shooter with a physicality and strength that Reaves cannot match defensively. There were several writers who proposed Bane as a possible 3&D replacement for Reaves.
If the trade is so horrible, then the Jazz should love it.
The trade is supposed to be a trade the Jazz cannot refuse. My guess is they probably will refuse it. Unless they draft a center in the first round Thursday.
LT. How ever this goes, I do not want to see your FA! LOLOLOL
DJ…enlighten me….”FA”????
Of course the Jazz would love it because its a terrible trade that the Lakers would never make.
Austin Bane
20.2 PPG 19.2
2’s % .583 .534
3’s % .377 .392
Assits 5.8 5.3
steals 1.1 1.2
rebounds 4.5 6.1
FT% .877 .89
While Bane is a little better defender he’s not a lock down all NBA type defender. Only way the Lakers trade Austin is if they recieve a good return. I don’t see them giving him away. And you want to add a first and Dalton? Danny would love you.
I love Austin Reaves but you are crazy to think he is worth anything close to what Desmond Bane got in trade.
Two good players and 4 picks and 1 swap for Austin Reaves. LMFAO.
Great comparison of Reaves vs Bane…and Tom….Reaves is NOT worth what Bane was traded for because that trade may go down as one of the worst in NBA history. (it may not since the draft focuses on mainly 18 and 19 year olds now…and I’m for the Lakers taking 4 year players…at least you get a better idea of how good they may turn out to be, just my opinion, don’t shoot the messenger.
I agree that is not a good trade. I see Austin and Knecht developing consistently over the next few years….yes they are around 23 and 25 years old, but they are both 4 year college players, and both have shown value. Yes, Knecht never got time after the rescinded trade, and Jamie Sweet……Knecht only played like 4 minute in the Minnesota series so that’s not a real judge on him. Those were probably garbage minutes anyway….I see Reaves as a continuing to be a ball handler and playmaker…remember, Father Time will eventually call for Lebron to call it a career, and I rather not go into that transition with a revolver with 1.5 bullets….
Man, I agree with you.
As of July 1st….I woulda made a trade with Orlando of Lebron for the package they gave up to get Bane….I woulda wanted another player instead of KCP, never liked him, his name is too long and he’s Klutch on paper, but not always on the court. Overpaid. Would’ve needed more salaries to make the salaries close/match, I’m not a CBA expert.
This sh!t is like Godfather III with Andy Garcia.
Tom, he may not be worth 4 1st round because I think the Magic over paid. But he’s worth at least 2 and a foundational player. What makes your trade even worse is giving up our only first and Dalton as well. The Lakers will NEVER do your trade.
Another thing to consider. Austin got his numbers as the 3rd option. Bane had to carry a heavy load with Ja missing 30 games.
This is the Lakers best offer, not the best offer they could get lol.
Michael H was right when he said Bane had to carry a heavy load with Ja missing 30 games. and Yes, Austin’s stats or numbers is when he was just a 3rd option. The only way I would agree to trade Austin for Kessler is if it will be Austin + pick swaps and that is it. For sure Danny would not agree with this. I think not any team will agree to a trade with the Lakers. They felt jealous on what happened with the Luka trade. Now everyone knows how desperate the Lakers are for needing a center. They would UP the price 10x higher if they will trade with the Lakers. Look at the John Collins trade. Danny was asking for a 1st Round Pick when Lakers were discussing a trade with him. Look at what they got when they joined the 3-team trade. 1 2nd round pick and two wash-up players that will be waived in the coming weeks or if not use as trade bait to add more draft capital. That is how other teams view things when Lakers trade with them against other teams trade with one another. So for me, Austin’s value is either equal to Bane’s or more. Look at how the kid hoop. His progress as an undrafted player. His confidence level is through the roof.
Everyone else also tired of Walker Kessler’s head Photoshopped onto a Laker jersey????????????????????????