The Los Angeles Lakers are being linked to almost every name on the open market. It's par for the course to some degree, but as the team searches for answers at a position of need, polarizing questions are beginning to be posed.
That's no more true than with one of the Lakers' most consistently rumored trade targets: Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler.
Kessler, 23, has become one of the most sought-after names on the open market. He previously received interest from the New York Knicks, which later made the decision to shift priorities and go all-in on a trade for Karl-Anthony Towns.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Lakers have opted not to follow in the Knicks' footsteps, as they remain interested in acquiring Kessler.
"Another hard-to-read big man situation: While Jazz center Walker Kessler has generated plenty of interest — he's another notable Lakers’ target, sources say — word is Utah has turned down multiple overtures for the former first-round selection."
Considering Utah has a reported asking price of at least two future first-round draft picks in any potential trade for Kessler, the Lakers would need him to become a true franchise cornerstone.
Asking price for Walker Kessler means Lakers would need him to be a star
Kessler has spent the past three seasons establishing himself as the prototypical traditional big. He's one of the best shot-blockers and rebounders in the NBA, as well as a powerful finisher around the rim who utilizes his 7'0" and 245-pound frame to bully opponents inside.
When all else fails, Kessler utilizes his colossal 7'4.25" wingspan to redirect shots and grab rebounds that are out of reach for the average player.
By the numbers, he's currently averaging 10.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.0 offensive boards, and 2.9 blocks in 29.4 minutes per game. That translates to 13.4 points, 13.0 rebounds, 4.8 offensive boards, and 3.5 blocks per 36 minutes—right in line with his career marks of 13.5, 12.5, 4.5, and 3.7.
Beyond the numbers, Kessler is the epitome of a rim protector, with the ability to defend without fouling and dissuade opponents from entering the paint.
For as intriguing as that all is, the cost of doing business is likely going up every time he shows out for the Jazz. As such, the Lakers mustn't pay the potentially steep price to acquire him unless they firmly believe he can help anchor the franchise for years to come.
No one makes a trade with the expectation of failure, of course, but the Lakers' NBA Draft situation is too dire to risk giving up even more capital for anything less than a star-caliber player.
Los Angeles is already preparing to be without first-round picks in 2025 and 2027. Parting with picks in 2029 and 2031 would only stand to deepen the hole the Lakers dug for themselves, even if the return would be a 23-year-old big with captivating potential.
It could prove to be a trade worth making in the long run, but the Lakers need to be sure about the path Kessler will travel from where he is today to the franchise cornerstone they'd require him to become.