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Lakers Make Godfather Offer For Walker Kessler Jazz Cannot Refuse

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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.

Lakers’ Only Path To Championship Will Require Trading Austin Reaves

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After their sorry first round exit and the playoff surge by a new guard of younger NBA teams and players, the Lakers must accept their only realistic championship path left will probably require trading Austin Reaves.

Without Austin Reaves, the Lakers simply don’t have enough highly coveted players or draft capital to trade for the elite rim protecting defensive center and the quality point-of-attack perimeter defender they need to contend. The Lakers’ current trading chips include their 2031 first round pick, $40.1 million in Hachimura, Vincent, and Kleber’s expiring contracts, last year’s #17 draft pick Dalton Knecht, and their 2026, 2028, 2030, 2032 pick swaps.

Besides being their most valuable trading chip, Austin Reaves will be eligible to sign a 4-year $89 million extension this summer. Reports are he will decline that offer and seek over $30 million per year as a free agent. While the last thing the Lakers want to do is trade a budding home-grown star on a team friendly contract, their need to optimize LeBron’s last years and to convince Luka to sign an extension may require trading Reaves.

The Lakers will open next year as a team under the first apron. Assuming they send out as much salary as the bring back, they should finish the season under the first apron and be able to use the $14.1 million NT MLE.
For the Lakers need to have room under the first apron player to be able to use the NT MLE, they would need LeBron James would have to accept less than the max salary next season, which is something he offered last year.

The Lakers say they would only trade Reaves for a foundational player. Here are 6 blockbuster Austin Reaves trades the Lakers should seriously consider if they want to create a path to win the championship this year.

AUSTIN REAVES, 6′ 5″, 197 lbs, 26-years old, $13.9M/yr
20.2 pts, 4.5 rebs, 5.8 asts, 0.3 blk, 1.1 stls in 34.9 mpg
Shooting 14.2/7.3/5.0 shots for 46.0/37.7/87.7%

1. JAREN JACKSON JR.

Both Teams Are Under First Apron After Trade

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Lakers get elite former DPOY as the perfect modern NBA center in Jaren Jackson, Jr., who can stretch the floor with his 3-point shooting and protect the rim with his shot blocking and defend in space with his quickness.

Grizzlies get a budding superstar in Austin Reaves who can shoot the three, playmake for his teammates, and has not yet gotten close to his ultimate ceiling. He is exactly what Memphis needs in a smart, savvy point guard.

JAREN JACKSON JR, 6′ 10″, 242 lbs, 25-years old, $23.4M/yr
22.2 pts, 5.6 rebs, 2.0 asts, 1.5 blk, 1.2 stls in 29.8 mpg
Shooting 15.4/5.3/5.4 shots for 48.8/37.5/78.1%

2. WALKER KESSLER & COLLIN SEXTON

Both Teams Are Under First Apron After Trade

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Lakers get the young bruising, rim protecting center in Walker Kessler to pair with Luka Doncic and a young sharp-shooting point guard in Collin Sexton to come off the bench as the team’s 6th man and backup point.

Jazz get best player in the trade in Austin Reaves and the only Lakers player who would tempt Danny Ainge to trade Kessler to the Lakers. Jazz also get L.A.’s unprotected 2031 pick and 1–4 protection off of Lakers 2027 pick.

COLLIN SEXTON, 6′ 3″, 190 lbs, 26-years old, $19.2M/yr
18.4 pts, 2.7 rebs, 4.2 asts, 0.1 blk, 0.7 stls in 27.9 mpg
Shooting 13.8/4.3/4.0 shots for 48.0/40.6/86.5%

WALKER KESSLER, 7′ 0″, 245 lbs, 23-years old, $4.9M/yr
11.1 pts, 12.2 rebs, 1.7 asts, 2.4 blk, 0.6 stls in 30.0 mpg
Shooting 7.2/0.6/2.6 shots for 68.0/17.6/52.0%

3. LUGUENTZ DORT

Both Teams Are Under First Apron After Trade

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Lakers get elite two-way point-of-attack defensive guard Luguentz Dort to replace one-way point guard Austin Reaves and pair with Luka Doncic in their backcourt of the future. Dort is also a 40% volume 3-point shooter.

Austin Reaves, much like Alex Caruso, is one of those special players who can survive the Thunders’ deluge of draft picks. Reaves and Dort are due extensions. Reaves’ offense is great fit for OKC as Dort’s defense is for L.A.

LUGUENNTZ DORT, 6′ 4″, 220 lbs, 26-years old, $17.7M/yr
10.1 pts, 4.1 rebs, 1.6 asts, 0.5 blk, 1.1 stls in 29.2 mpg
Shooting 8.4/5.8/0.6 shots for 43.5/41.2/71.7%

4. JRUE HOLIDAY

Celtics Are Over Second Apron and Lakers Over First Apron After Trade

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Lakers get elite two-way point-of-attack defensive guard Jrue Holiday to replace one-way point guard Austin Reaves and pair with Luka Doncic in backcourt. Lakers also get 2 seconds for taking on Jrue’s bad contract.

Austin Reaves gives the Celtics a replacement for point guard Jrue Holiday who’s 8 years younger and $20 million per year cheaper plus an opportunity to save $18.3 million by allowing Rui Hachimura’s big contract to expire.

JRUE HOLIDAY, 6′ 4″, 205 lbs, 34-years old, $32.4M/yr
11.1 pts, 4.3 rebs, 3.9 asts, 0.4 blk, 1.1 stls in 30.6 mpg
Shooting 9.2/4.9/1.2 shots for 44.3/35.3/90.0%

5. DENI AVDIJA & ROBERT WILLIAMS III

Both Teams Are Under First Apron After Trade

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Lakers get two-way player Deni Avdija to replace one-way player Rui Hachimura at starting power forward and dynamic but injury prone two-way center Robert Williams III to become L.A.’s new starting center.

Blazers get best player in the trade in Austin Reaves, who would be a perfect mentor for 21-year old Scoot Henderson, and an immediate replacement at power forward for Deni Avdija in Rui Hachimura.

DENI AVDIJA, 6′ 9″, 240 lbs, 24-years old, $14.4M/yr
16.9 pts, 7.3 rebs, 3.9 asts, 0.5 blk, 1.0 stls in 30.0 mpg
Shooting 11.7/4.8/5.2 shots for 47.6/36.5/78.0%

ROBERT WILLIAMS III, 6′ 9″, 249 lbs, 27-years old, $13.3M/yr
5.8 pts, 5.9 rebs, 1.1 asts, 1.7 blk, 0.7 stls in 17.6 mpg
Shooting 3.9/0.2/0.9 shots for 64.1/33.3/88.2%

6. JONATHAN ISAAC & GOGA BITADZE

Both Teams Are Under First Apron After Trade

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Lakers get two elite defensive big men who can protect the rim and defend in space in power forward Jonathan Isaac and center Goga Bitadze. Both can play the 4 and 5 and together they would be a great center rotation.

Magic get a second star point guard and 3-point shooter in Austin Reaves and a potentially elite sharp-shooting wing in young Dalton Knecht. Magic would waive Shake Milton as he is just salary filler to make trade work.

JONATHAN ISAAC, 6′ 10″, 230 lbs, 27-years old, $15.0M/yr
5.4 pts, 4.4 rebs, 0.6 asts, 1.1 blk, 0.9 stls in 15.4 mpg
Shooting 4.6/2.1/1.5 shots for 41.4/25.8/68.2%

GOGA BITADZE, 6′ 10″, 250 lbs, 25-years old, $8.3M/yr
7.2 pts, 6.6 rebs, 2.0 asts, 1.4 blk, 0.7 stls in 20.4 mpg
Shooting 4.8/0.4/1.9 shots for 61.1/10.7/63.9%

Lakers’ 1st Round Exit Should Force Pelinka To Upgrade Center Rotation

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The Lakers’ surprise first round exit should ratchet up the pressure on Rob Pelinka to fix the broken roster that doomed L.A. in the playoffs and put together a legitimate championship caliber center rotation this summer.

By rescinding the Mark Williams trade, the Lakers made a clear decision to prioritize the future over the present, forcing the current team to live with a centerless roster while stockpiling tradable assets to use in the offseason. That means Rob Pelinka needs not only to trade for a championship caliber starting center this summer but also acquire a trustworthy backup center who, at minimum, can protect the rim and rebound when the starter rests.

While the Lakers top priority this offseason is fixing their center rotation, they also need to upgrade their wing defense and always like to have draft capital available in case another superstar suddenly comes on the market.
Their current draft capital includes their 2031 first round pick and 1–4 of their 2027 first round pick plus 2026, 2028, 2030, and 2032 pick swaps. There’s also a chance LeBron might take a pay cut to open up the NT MLE.

The bad news is the Lakers have more holes to fill than assets to fill them but the good news is it looks like there will be no shortage of quality starting and backup centers who could be acquired for the right price.
Right now, the Lakers will probably have to trade for their new starting center but could use part of the possible NT MLE to sign a quality backup center, who needs to be good enough to make the Lakers’ rotation.

So what constitutes a championship caliber center rotation for the Lakers, why should their trade strategy be best player and not best deal, and could Walker Kessler and Kelly Olynyk be their best potential center rotation?

WHAT IS A ‘CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBER’ CENTER ROTATION?

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Pelinka already said the Lakers’ top priorities for starting center are ability to protect the rim and be a vertical lob threat but the center rotation as a whole should also include the ability to space the floor and defend in space.

The Lakers not only need a starting center but also a trustworthy backup who together can provide elite rim protection and mobile switchability on defense and vertical lob threat and 3-point floor spacing on offense.
Since there is no center out there who can fill all four of those roles, the Lakers need to build a rotation with a starting and backup center who together have the needed size and offensive and defensive skillsets.

In retrospect, it’s obvious Rob Pelinka and the Lakers’ front office never viewed finding a championship caliber starting center as a critical roster need because they always had superstar Anthony Davis to play the five.
Trading Anthony Davis and watching Jaxson Hayes get played off the court in the playoffs have truly left the Lakers centerless at a point in time where the rest of the league seems to be returning to an age where size rules.

There is no question the Lakers’ greatest roster need this summer is a championship caliber starting center who both can protect the rim and be a lethal vertical lob threat for new superstar point guard Luka Doncic.
What the Lakers need to do is replace what they lost on defense and offense when they traded Anthony Davis, which probably means adding at least two players with the size and skills to play the center position.

A championship caliber center rotation needs an elite young two-way starting center with upside to anchor the defense and give the offense a vertical lob threat and an experienced veteran center to back him up.

WHY LAKERS NEED ‘BEST PLAYER’ MORE THAN ‘BEST DEAL’

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The good news is Pelinka knows the team needs to dramatically upgrade its center rotation both in ability and size. The bad news is Rob as usual will be looking to make the ‘best deal’ rather than acquire the ‘best two centers.’

There’s a time in the life of every organization when they’re facing a critical decision point they absolutely must get right, even if it ends up costing them a more than they hoped to pay. Now is that time for the Lakers.
After failing for four years straight to give their head coach a viable center rotation, Pelinka needs to identify the best targets as Laker starting and backup centers and pay whatever is needed to acquire the right players.

Frankly, for the Lakers to be a legitimate championship caliber team, the need a championship caliber starting center. The Lakers’ starting center should be the third or fourth best player on the team. He’s that important.
Strategically, the Lakers simply must replace Anthony Davis with a center rotation that includes a championship caliber two-way starting center who can anchor the defense and be a lethal vertical lob threat for the offense.

Fortunately, there are multiple elite starting center options for the Lakers to pursue, including the Pacers’ Myles Turner, Heat’s Bam Adebayo, Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson, Jr., Nets’ Nic Claxton, and Jazz’ Walker Kessler.
There are also some excellent backup center option that could become available, including Kelly Olynyk, Steven Adams, Deandre Ayton, Nikola Vucevic, Isaiah Stewart, Jonas Valanciunas, and Robert Williams III.

The Lakers need to identify the best starting and backup centers to complement and fit with Luka Doncic’s style of play and timeline and the team’s future cap situation and pay whatever they have to land them.

COULD KESSLER & OLYNYK BE BEST CENTER ROTATION?

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Two targets who would fill all the Lakers center needs both on offense and defense would Jazz’ Walker Kessler, an elite rim protector and rebounder, and Pelicans’ center Kelly Olynyk, an elite 3-point shooter and playmaker.

Walker Kessler and Kelly Olynyk would give the Lakers an elite, affordable two-man center rotation that perfectly complements Luka Doncic’s skills as a player and fits his timeline and championship window as a superstar.
The 2-man center rotation of Kessler and Olynyk would cover all four major center skillsets, including rim protection and guarding on the perimeter on defense and stretching the floor and being a vertical lob threat on offense.

Kessler and Olynyk are also both on affordable contracts. Kessler is on the last year of his rookie contract and earns $4.9 million per year while Olynyk is in the last year of a 2-year deal and will make $13.4 million next season.
Compare those salaries to the $19.9, $23.4, $25.4, or $37.1 million per year the Lakers would be paying if they traded for Myles Turner, Jaren Jackson, Nic Claxton, or Bam Adebayo. Lakers get both Kessler and Olynyk for less.

The combination of Walker Kessler’s rim protection, size and physicality, rookie contract and salary, and double-double points and rebounds make him the obvious ‘best player’ option as the Lakers’ new starting center.
The challenge will be getting Danny Ainge to trade Walker Kessler to the Lakers for a package that includes Dalton Knecht, unprotected 2031 first round pick, 2027 first round pick if 1–4, and 2028 first round pick swap.

The 23-year old Kessler and 34-year old Olynyk, even if overpaid, would give the Lakers a deep and diverse championship caliber center rotation with great size and a lethal repertoire of offensive and defensive skills.

Lakers Have Already Found Their Next Great Center in Jaxson Hayes

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While a small sample size, 24-year old Jaxson Hayes has become the Lakers’ most valuable role player after big stars Doncic, James, and Reaves. He now has a legitimate chance to become the next great Lakers’ center.

The Lakers have now won 17 of the 20 games that Jaxson Hayes has started at center. During those 20 starts, Hayes averaged 8.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 turnovers, 0.7 steals, 1.2 blocks in 24.5 minutes per game. Hayes shot 73.0% from the field, 0.0% from three, and 66.7% from the line. He posted a strong offensive rating of 116.0 (#13 among centers), an elite defensive rating of 104.6 (#1), and a top-5 net rating of +11.4 (#4).

Hayes’ play has been one of the key factors in the Lakers recent rise to the top-5 contenders to win this year’s NBA championship. Having Hayes rise to the occasion solved the dilemma of whom would start for the Lakers.
But the Lakers still haven’t solved who’s going to play center when Jaxson’s on the bench resting or out with an injury during the recent 4-game losing streak. Right now, Hayes and Koloko are the Lakers’ center rotation.

On the court, Jaxson has not only won the love of Lakers’ fans but also the heart of newly acquired superstar Luka Doncic. Luka has long excelled at pounding defenses with dunk lobs to high flying centers and wings.
The timing and chemistry the two have already created has been electric. Last night’s game against the Phoenix Suns was a perfect example of what an unexpected great fit at center Jaxson Hayes has become in a short time.

There’s no question the Lakers also need a big bodied center who can bang with Jokic and Sabonis as well as a stretch center who can space the court to provide a deep and versatile championship caliber center rotation.
Whether the Lakers pursue a big body like Walker Kessler and/or a stretch five shot and playmaker like Kelly Olynyk, Jaxson Hayes has already shown he is team’s most valuable role player and has a shot at long-term starter.

The style of defense JJ Redick has the Lakers playing right now is perfect for Jaxson Hayes. It will also continue to be important defensively for the Lakers to keep Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic from being switch hunted.
Hayes was not a great fit for drop coverage but for a center who has the quickness of foot and athleticism to defend in space, the icing and hedging that Redick’s new defense demands is a perfect fit for Jaxson Hayes.

Jaxson Hayes’ elite gravity and fit as a vertical lob threat for Luka along with his proven ability to defend in space and improving ability to protect the rim give him a good head start to be the Lakers’ next great center.

Lakers’ Offers for Turner Or Kessler That Pacers And Jazz Cannot Refuse

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With Davis likely to be out until after the All-Star break, the Los Angeles Lakers need to stop searching for the ‘best’ deal and focus instead on offers for Turner or Kessler the Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz cannot refuse.

Myles Turner and Walker Kessler are clearly the two center trade targets who would be the best fits as starting fives alongside Anthony Davis in a two-bigs lineup that could transform the Laker’ championship aspirations. The challenge facing the Lakers is they’re likely going to have to overpay to get Turner or Kessler. They’re going to have to make an offer that is so good the Pacers and Jazz have no option but to accept the Lakers’ offer.

While the Lakers claim Davis’ injury is not serious enough to change their trade deadline plans, the simple reality is that the Lakers are likely to miss Anthony Davis until teams return from the All-Star break on February 19th.
The Lakers are currently still 5th in the West with a 26–19 record but will face a challenge to prevent sliding into and out of the play-in tournament as they will struggle to survive the next 7 games without Anthony Davis.

The Lakers need make a trade for Myles Turner or Walker Kessler right now. Every day Rob Pelinka waits hoping for a better deal just increases the odds that the Lakers will surely miss out on the ‘right’ players by waiting.
Without AD, the Lakers will be lucky to go 3–4 the next 7 games, leaving them at 29–23 and #7 seed. Going 2–5 would plunge them to 28–24 and #9 seed and going 1–6 would leave them at 27–25 and out of play-in at #11.

The Lakers must get serious and go all-in with offers the Pacers and Jazz simple cannot turn down. They have enough draft capital to make a trade with both the Pacers and the Jazz. They just need the will and courage.

The Myles Turner Trade

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The Lakers should offer the Pacers the contracts of Rui Hachimura and Jalen Hood-Schifino plus their unprotected 2029 first round pick, 2030 first round pick swap, and 2031 unprotected first round pick for Myles Turner.

Long coveted by the Lakers, Myles Turner is the perfect modern two-way stretch five center to play alongside of and backup Anthony Davis when he goes to the bench. Time may have finally come for the Lakers to get Turner.
There’s no question Myles is probably the best possible fit as a second big next to AD. While the Lakers have chosen to pass on trading for Turner in the past because he was not a ‘superstar,’ the timing right now is perfect.

The Indiana Pacers would have no option other than to accept the Lakers offer of three post-LeBron James unprotected first round picks for Turner. The Lakers post-LeBron picks would be the gold standard of draft capital.
L.A. would also have no problem expanding the trade to other NBA teams. Indiana could turn around and use the 2030 pick swap to expand the trade to include Portland and Robert Williams III or Toronto and Jacob Poeltl.

The Lakers could add other players like Lonzo Ball or Bruce Brown to the trade to address their need for better point-of-attack perimeter defense and to replace D’Angelo Russell’s volume 3-point shooting and elite playmaking.
Both Ball or Brown could likely be acquired for the Lakers two available second round picks and would immediately help improve their perimeter defense and upgrade their overall team speed, size, and athleticism.

The Lakers need to stop searching for ‘best’ deal and make the Pacers an offer for Myles Turner that includes three shots at a #1 draft pick via L.A.’s 2029, 2030, and 2031 post-LeBron James unprotected first round picks.

The Walker Kessler Trade

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The Lakers should offer the Jazz the contracts of Jackson Hayes and Cam Reddish plus their 2029 unprotected first round pick, 2031 unprotected first round pick, and eliminate protection from their 2027 first round pick.

A dynamic young center, 23-year old Walker Kessler is the perfect bruising defensive center to play alongside of and backup Anthony Davis when he goes to the bench. Kessler’s youth and rookie contract are huge pluses.
While Kessler cannot space the floor like Turner, his overall upside due to his young age, cheap rookie contract, and low trade cost in matching salaries make him the best option for the lakers to pursue financially.

The Utah Jazz should have no option other than to accept the Lakers offer of essentially three post-LeBron James unprotected first round picks for Kessler. Utah would have the Lakers unprotected 2027,2029, and 2031 firsts.
L.A. would also have no problem expanding the trade to other NBA teams. Danny Ainge would love to add the Lakers post-LeBron unprotected first round picks to his unprotected post-Kevin Durant 2031 first round pick.

One of the big benefits of trading for Walker Kessler is he would not require the contract or contracts of any rotation players, which means the Lakers would have all their tradable contracts available for a second move.
That second move for a point-of-attack perimeter defender like Lonzo Ball or Bruce Brown would be easier to make after a Kessler trade than a Turner trade, which would force the Lakers to move Vincent and Vanderbilt

The Lakers need to stop searching for ‘best’ deal and make the Jazz an offer for Walker Kessler that includes three shots at a #1 draft pick via L.A.’s 2027, 2029, and 2031 post-LeBron James unprotected first round picks.