For five games in 2025-26, Walker Kessler teased something the Los Angeles Lakers will hope becomes much more than a flash in the pan. As today's headline would suggest, that would be his 3-point shot. The brief sample size offered an encouraging glimpse of a very desirable evolution.
Kessler knocked down 1.2 of his 1.6 attempts from beyond the arc during those five games, paving the way for a sizzling percentage of 75.0 on those deep looks. Spacing is always highly valuable in the modern NBA. In the Los Angeles Lakers' circumstances, specifically, it weighs even heavier.
The Lakers need to properly space the floor for their franchise superstar. Luka Doncic deserves a fair shot at bullying defenders on the interior. If Kessler is suddenly a real threat to knock it down from deep, that adds an extra layer to opening up the floor for Luka.
More importantly, it prevents the Lakers from being pigeonholed into who they can feature as their fifth starter. The options available to them at present are already deemed lackluster by some. If Los Angeles can get Kessler spacing the floor consistently, they are less reliant on getting that impact at a high rate from the forward who is expected to finalize the starting lineup. That gives them flexibility.
Lakers get more options at starting forward if Walker Kessler is hitting his triples
Kessler has already discussed the desire to utilize this new weapon in his offensive arsenal. Earlier this summer, the new Lakers center mentioned how conversations with JJ Redick invited the idea of him stretching the floor. Redick told his guy that he wants him to shoot that shot.
Sustaining that 75.0 percent clip is naturally unfeasible for Kessler. However, a modest success rate on a respectable volume would force defenses to respect that shot. That would go a long way.
With relation to the starting lineup, Ziaire Williams has consistently stood out among the most attractive options of the bunch due to the anticipated ability to continue his growth as a shooter. That becomes less important at that final starter spot if Kessler is hitting his deep shots.
It does not become an afterthought altogether by any means for whoever wins that fifth starter competition. However, the Lakers would be afforded a more balanced approach to weighing who gets that job. Being an average to below average deep-ball shooter becomes less of a negative.
That could allow Jake LaRavia to shine as a glue guy in the starting lineup despite the struggles on his shot last season. Perhaps Jarred Vanderbilt's defensive activity and overall hustle allows for his Lakers redemption. Maybe the Lakers even feel emboldened to feature Adou Thiero despite him still being quite raw on offense.
At bare minimum, there is a much longer conversation to be had around each of those players if Kessler evolves into a floor-spacing big. That would be an incredible gift for the Lakers.
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