You could be reading this at the exact moment that Walker Kessler is meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers, as the official start of free agency is here, as of 3 p.m. PT. Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported early Tuesday morning that the center, who is a restricted free agent, has three meetings lined up, including one that is believed to be with LA (subscription required):
Utah restricted free agent center Walker Kessler has meetings lined up with three teams Tuesday night after 6 PM ET at the Los Angeles offices of his CAA representatives. The Lakers, of course, are strongly believed to be one of those three teams given their considerable interest in trying to swipe Kessler from the Jazz.
There aren't exactly many quality centers on the free-agent market, which isn't ideal for the Lakers, considering that landing one is near the top of their offseason list. Kessler has been on Los Angeles' radar for a few years, but unfortunately, Utah is high on him and doesn't want to see him go.
Assuming that LA is one of the teams he is meeting with, this is the Lakers' time to shine, and it helps them that they can offer him more with LeBron James leaving.
Lakers could be meeting with Walker Kessler in free agency
Utah can match any offer that Kessler gets, and that could be what ultimately spoils the fun. The Jazz will have the final say, but the fact that they just signed Jusuf Nurkić to a two-year, $22 million deal could play in the Lakers' favor. Los Angeles can hope, at least.
It wouldn't be the end of the world if the Lakers didn't get Kessler, but if they missed out on him and Jalen Duren, it might be. The latter seems more attainable, since he and the Pistons are reportedly far apart in their negotiations, but truly, who knows how either situation will play out?
What the Lakers need to focus on is controlling what they can control, which, at this time, could mean meeting with Kessler and making the best possible pitch. It shouldn't take much to sell him on playing for an iconic franchise and pairing with someone like Luka Dončić. Perhaps he will make it known that he wants to be in LA, but then again, it's not solely up to him.
From the Lakers' perspective, he will turn 25 at the end of July, so he could be a long-term piece for them. He's a great interior defender and rebounder, but his health is a bit of a question mark since he played just five games this past season. In his first three years in the league, though, he averaged 65 games, so there's that.
The next time he plays in an NBA game, will it be in purple and gold?
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