Obviously, the Los Angeles Lakers are getting a lot of heat right now for how many picks they gave up for Walker Kessler. Two first-rounders and two first-round pick swaps are a lot. But he should fit nicely alongside Luka Doncic. And Doncic should give Kessler something he’s never had before: An elite playmaker to run the pick-and-roll with.
Kessler is a rebounding machine and an elite interior defender, but throughout his time with the Utah Jazz, he never had an elite playmaker to play next to. That means his true abilities in the pick-and-roll have yet to be unleashed. And who better to unleash them than Doncic, one of the best passers on the planet?
Doncic and Kessler should be a perfect pairing in LA (and Austin Reaves isn’t a bad passer himself).
Luka Doncic is best passer Walker Kessler has ever played with
During his time with the Jazz, Kessler definitely played next to plenty of talented passers. However, none of them were quite on the same level as Doncic. Nowhere near, to be honest.
The best playmaker he played with in Utah was probably Isaiah Collier, who is a great passer, especially for his age. However, when compared to Doncic, it’s not the same.
Kessler also got the chance to play next to Mike Conley for 43 games during his rookie campaign, but that was cut short after just half a season because the veteran point guard was traded.
And before people start bringing up that he played with Keyonte George, Kessler only played in five games this past year. This was George’s breakout campaign. Before this season, he was solid, but the playmaking wasn’t as great as it is today.
Now, Kessler will be suiting up next to Doncic in Los Angeles, a guy who has been an elite playmaker since entering the league. A guy who creates advantages for his teammates simply by existing on the court.
Doncic is far and away the best playmaker Kessler will have ever played with, and it could be exactly what he needs to unlock everything there is to unlock when it comes to his offensive game.
Maybe there is an elite pick-and-roll player in the making there. He’s already good in those spots, but maybe playing next to a guy like Doncic could help him reach another level. The Lakers certainly hope so.
Moving from Utah to LA will give Kessler a chance to reach new offensive heights, and Doncic’s presence as the Lakers’ full-time point guard is undoubtedly a major factor in that reality.
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