Walker Kessler is the Los Angeles Lakers' new starting center after Wednesday's reported sign-and-trade with the Jazz. The leading consensus is that it was an overpay, but you know who probably isn't thinking much about that? Luka Dončić, since he finally has the center he has been waiting for.
The superstar guard hadn't even played in his first game yet for the Lakers after last year's trade before he asked Rob Pelinka for a lob threat. Los Angeles acted swiftly, trading for Mark Williams, who was with Charlotte at the time, but as we all know, that deal fell through.
The Lakers finished the 2024-25 season with Jaxson Hayes, and last summer they took a flier on Deandre Ayton after the Trail Blazers bought out his contract. He recently exercised his $8.1 million player option for next summer. Still, Los Angeles knew it needed more than that, or else it wouldn't have given up two unprotected first-round picks and two swaps to sign Kessler to a four-year, $130 million deal.
It was a steep price, but it was worth it, not just to make Dončić happy, though that, of course, is important.
Luka Doncic finally has the center he has been waiting for
It was going to come down to either Kessler or Jalen Duren for Los Angeles (or neither!), and the team met with both on Tuesday. Because of restricted free agency, though, it was a sticky situation for the Lakers. It hasn't sounded like the Pistons want to lose their center, and the Jazz have two Ainges in their organization. Enough said.
Los Angeles was going to have to give up a lot to get either, particularly Kessler, and Utah took advantage of that. Again, the Ainges. It didn't help, of course, that the center free agency market wasn't overflowing with quality talent. The pressure was on the Lakers to do something, and they most certainly did.
Dončić wasn't at risk of trying to dart Los Angeles or anything, but after how the past 24 hours went, the doom and gloom was already building. How quickly things can change in a matter of minutes.
Just like that, Luka has a new pick-and-roll partner who will give the Lakers the defensive presence down low they needed. Kessler's activity on the boards will be huge, too, as he averaged 12.2 per game in the 58 games he played in 2024-25. He played just five games last season because of a left shoulder injury that required surgery last November. His health is a concern, but not to the extent some are making it out to be.
It might've taken longer than Dončić (and Lakers fans) liked, but Los Angeles has its center of the future. Now, all we have to do is wait a few months to see that duo in action, so if time could speed up just a little bit, that'd be great.
Add us as a preferred source on Google