The Lakers have gone up 3-0 to start the season, but one thing that may hamper the franchise’s productivity is no definitive center behind Anthony Davis.
No doubt, AD is absolutely balling out to start the season and is averaging 34 points, 11 assists, 3.3 rebounds on 57.1 shooting from the field across three games.
But, if he goes down with injury, wants to pull back on his minutes a little, or wants another big to play alongside on the court, who will that be?
Christian Wood is out injured until at least next week and two-way player Christian Koloko also has no clear timeline to return.
One solution to LA’s question mark over the center position is to trade for Jazz center Walker Kessler, Lakers insider Jovan Buha says.
“I think Walker Kessler is a name that the Lakers have been interested in that I think would make a lot of sense and would allow you to either start a two-big look. Or – probably more realistically – bring him off the bench and then play two-big shifts,” Buha said on Buha’s Block recently. “And then in certain matchups, close with two bigs; him and AD, obviously.”
This trade proposal by Heavy Sports would see Kessler join the Lakers, but at a cost to their future draft picks.
Lakers get: Walker Kessler
Jazz get: Christian Wood, 2027 first-round pick rights (currently top-4 protected via LAL) & 2029 first-round pick
“The compensation, namely the draft capital could be a tough sell for the Lakers, who owe their first-round pick in 2025 to the Atlanta Hawks by way of the New Orleans Pelicans. The Lakers also owe their first-rounder in 2027 to the Jazz, limiting what they can trade,” Heavy Sports’ Josh Buckhalter says.
“Perhaps removing the protections on that 2027 pick would satisfy the Jazz amid their rumored asking price for Kessler.