The Los Angeles Lakers just made a massive bet on Walker Kessler being the defensive anchor that helps Luka Doncic win a championship, and it will be the deciding factor in how long Rob Pelinka’s tenure as general manager lasts. They gave up two unprotected first-round draft picks and two first-round swaps to convince the Utah Jazz to let the restricted free agent go. It was a massive overpay, and the Lakers had to give the big man a four-year, $130 million contract on top of that. This was the center Doncic wanted, and Pelinka is betting on Kessler being the right one.
The risks are easy to see. Kessler is coming off a season where he played just five games and had to have shoulder surgery. He averaged 65.3 contests per year in his first three. The 7’2 big man has to be healthy and keep expanding his game. His scoring, playmaking and defense have improved every season. The 24-year-old should be years away from his peak. Luka is known for getting the most out of big men, but the Lakers paid Kessler like a championship starter. That is what he must become.
Kessler has never played a playoff game or been paired with a star like Doncic. This is an exciting union that both sides wanted, but Pelinka knows it has to work. If the new direction fails, he gets fired.
Rob Pelinka just put his job with the Lakers on Walker Kessler
Luka wanted a big man, but the Lakers are not dumping the six-time first-team All-NBA selection if this move doesn’t work. Pelinka will be gone, and the Lakers will search for a new architect to build the roster around number 77. Star players are much tougher to acquire than a general manager.
The Lakers completely remade their roster this summer. LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard, and Jaxson Hayes left the franchise in free agency. LA signed Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Collin Sexton just minutes after agreeing with Kessler. Austin Reaves got a max contract and Pelinka drafted Cameron Carr to round out LA’s new core.
This was Pelinka’s idea of a build around Luka, and it has to work. Doncic is in his prime and wants to win. He won’t wait forever, and the Lakers will fire the lead decision-maker before trading away their superstar.
Kessler is an elite rebounder and rim protector that should get even more chances to finish inside playing off Luka. The 7’2 big man was LA’s top target. Pelinka could have chased Jalen Duren or traded for Nicolas Claxton. He chose Kessler, and his future now depends on it.
The Los Angeles Lakers will look extremely different. This is Pelinka’s first build without LeBron James on his roster, and he bet massively on Walker Kessler. The 7’2 big man holds the general manager’s fate in his hands. They need Kessler to become a star and a crucial piece of an annual contender around Luka Doncic. If not, Pelinka will be looking for work. That is the reality of the modern NBA, like it or not.
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