Walker Kessler got such a big contract from the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2026 offseason that it immediately made everyone forget how large the financial commitment to Austin Reaves was. Reaves' $180 million deal looked like a relative bargain by contrast to the $129.5 million Kessler got.
That is, at least, how the glass half-empty critics read the situation. Sure, there is something to be said about the fact of the Lakers paying the highest average salary in NBA history to a center who has never made an All-Star appearance. However, the circumstances demanded it.
Kessler is young and oozing with potential. The Utah Jazz had his restricted free agent rights and a ton of reason to keep him around. The Lakers had to both give the new center a price worth leaving Utah for, and a trade package that convinced the Jazz to give him up.
Talking about what 2026-27 holds for Kessler thus mainly becomes a discussion of whether the price was worth it and how quickly that can be judged.
Walker Kessler's role and expectations with the Lakers in 2026-27
The Lakers are effectively paying Kessler like their third star in the upcoming season. The starting center only trails Reaves ($41.2 million) and Luka Doncic ($49.5 million) as the highest earners on the team in 2026-27.
Earlier, the joke was made that AR15's contract was a bargain when stacked up against Kessler. That is because Reaves has proven to be much closer to the payday he got than what the Lakers gave to their new big. Again, though, this is not the problem some have made it out to be.
What Los Angeles will require from their big man is him being a defensive star. They need an anchor in the paint, and Kessler more than fits that description. If the Lakers can deploy him in a way that maximizes his skill set, Walker will remind everyone just how stout of a defender he can be.
That is where the majority of expectations for him to live up to the price tag as the starting center in Los Angeles will come from. Finishing lobs from Doncic on the other end of the court will only help his cause. The Lakers do not need him to be named an All-Star, but bordering on the category of bigs would not hurt.
Stats and award predictions for Walker Kessler in 2026-27
Unlike the two previous installments of this series with Doncic and Reaves, it is actually worth pondering the awards before the stats with Kessler. Are there any notable accolades the young center would be positioned for in 2026-27?
Perhaps in a best-case scenario, an All-Defensive Second Team is within the realm of realism. Even that comes off as a bit of a stretch, though.
Maybe a Most Improved Player award would not be too crazy to get behind if there is a firm statistical leap? However, those often go to offensive overperformers, and Kessler's main impact is expected on the other end. As said above, an All-Star nod may be a touch premature too.
None of these things should mean Kessler will be bad by any means. A successful statistical season from him could look something akin to: 14.5 points per game, 11.5 rebounds per game, 2.0 blocks per game, and 1.0 steal per game.
The bottom line with Walker Kessler
Having Doncic and Reaves as backcourt playmakers should allow Kessler an opportunity to enjoy a breakout offensive season. Having JJ Redick as a head coach should pave the way for his defense to shine. Combine those and it should put him much closer to the price tag he carries.
Doncic and the Lakers wanted an A-list guy in the middle, and they are paying for Kessler to grow into that descriptor next season. There should be plenty of confidence in him doing just with his well-fitted new surroundings. That should erase talks of that supposed overpay midway through 2026-27.
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