The Los Angeles Lakers did not waste any time figuring out what comes next after LeBron James’ recent exit. Hours after James informed the franchise he would be entering free agency and playing elsewhere next season, the Lakers moved swiftly to reshape their roster around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
Lakers Give Up Multiple First-Round Picks For Walker Kessler
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Los Angeles is acquiring Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz for unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, plus first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030. Kessler’s deal comes with a player option on the fourth season and a full trade kicker included.
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Lakers are acquiring Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz for unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030, sources tell ESPN. Kessler will sign a massive four-year, $130 million deal with the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/rt8b17fEQZ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2026
Two unprotected firsts and two swaps are a significant risk for any team, let alone one already committed to Dončić’s supermax extension and Reaves’ new $185 million deal signed recently.
But the Lakers have identified their cornerstone center for the next chapter and moved without hesitation to get him. Kessler is on a four-year $130 million contract and is set to make $30,232,558 next season.
It looks like the Lakers’ project is clear: Kessler is the signature big man built to complement two ball-dominant star guards, a 7-foot-2, 245-pound rim protector and lob threat who shot an astonishing 70.3% from the field and 75% from three before his season ended abruptly.
Kessler appeared in just five games during the 2025-26 season before undergoing left shoulder surgery in early November to repair a torn labrum. He averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.8 blocks across those appearances before going down.
These numbers explained why he was already considered one of the most intriguing young centers in the league. The shoulder procedure is behind him, and the expectation is that he will be fully healthy and available for training camp when the 2026-27 season gets underway.
The fit alongside Dončić and Reaves is undeniable. Both guards are at their best operating in space and attacking off the dribble, and Kessler’s game is built around exactly that. He is a legitimate lob threat, an elite rim protector who averages 2.4 blocks per game over his career.
On a team that previously didn’t have a great offensive threat in the paint, Kessler gives Dončić a true vertical threat to throw it over the top to. His presence alone gives Los Angeles a different look at the rim than they have had in years.
The Jazz, on the other hand, continues their rebuild. The Jazz acquired two unprotected first-round picks in the deal, adding to what is already one of the most stacked future draft hoards in the league. Danny Ainge’s plan seems clear enough: to stockpile draft capital and build the team once again.
For the Lakers, it looks like they have taken a major gamble on Kessler by giving up multiple first-round draft picks. But it also speaks volumes about the new ownership’s plan to contend almost right away rather than waiting for the right window of opportunity. Only time will tell if their plan works out and if Kessler turns out to be a bargain.
