The Los Angeles Lakers sent two unprotected first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps to the Jazz for Walker Kessler, all to give him a four-year, $130 million contract. It was their big splash of the summer, delivering on giving Luka Dončić the center he asked for. It also kept the team from the temptation of going all-in on Jonathan Kuminga.
Dan Woike of The Athletic reported on Monday that Kuminga and the Lakers were "far apart on terms," stalling momentum (subscription required). Los Angeles is also "not overly motivated" to lose "significant" draft capital in a sign-and-trade.
Considering what the team gave up to get Kessler, that's understandable.
Now, think about what might've happened if the Lakers didn't get Kessler, their top option, or Jalen Duren, who wants more than the Pistons have offered, though Detroit doesn't want to lose him. The team could've pivoted to someone like Mitchell Robinson, who signed a three-year, $47.4 million deal with the Celtics, but that wouldn't have required giving up assets.
With pressure on Los Angeles to construct a winning roster around Dončić, could it have led to Rob Pelinka cashing in assets in a Kuminga sign-and-trade?
Lakers can at least justify paying a high price for Walker Kessler
If you're thinking it wouldn't have made sense to part with assets to sign an inconsistent player like Kuminga who isn't a good shooter, you're not alone. Think about the kind of decisions that Pelinka makes, though. It wouldn't have been surprising if he talked himself into the wing's potential, making the 23-year-old the Lakers' big move of the offseason.
There certainly are questions about Kessler, but he fits the mold for Los Angeles as not only the lob threat Dončić was waiting for, but he's a great rim protector and rebounder. It shouldn't have been all that difficult for the Lakers to talk themselves into getting him, even at that price tag.
You can't say the same for Kuminga. Even if Los Angeles were to get him now (which may not be in the cards after the Matisse Thybulle news), after landing Kessler, it could come at a cost the Lakers shouldn't have paid. That regret could've easily been multiplied had LA been willing to give up far more than it should've in a desperation move.
Kessler has a higher chance of being the long-term center that the Lakers need than Kuminga would have of hanging around in LA. The price that Los Angeles paid for the big man is more than fans would've liked, but, hey, it comes with a greater reward.
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