The Lakers gave up almost all of their future draft capital to land a center on Wednesday, and it could leave them without many ways to fix the rest of the roster.
Los Angeles turned Wednesday into one of the busiest days of its offseason, and the move that stood out most was a sign-and-trade for Utah center Walker Kessler.
The Lakers sent two unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, plus first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030, to the Jazz to land Kessler, who is signing a four-year, $130 million deal with a player option in year four.
That trade kicked off a busy stretch that also saw the team bring back Austin Reaves on a four-year max contract and sign three more players, all as LeBron James heads elsewhere.
A Big Price for the Frontcourt
The compensation is what makes this one sting, since Kessler is a legitimate rim protector who averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks two seasons ago, but a torn labrum limited him to five games last season before shoulder surgery ended his year in November.
His career averages, 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks a game, are solid for a role player but far short of what most teams give up two unprotected firsts to land, explaining the mixed grades it drew around the league.
Why This Looks Like a Reach
Compare it to what Philadelphia paid for Jaylen Brown that same day, when the 76ers sent two first-round picks, two second-rounders and an aging Paul George contract for a former Finals MVP still playing at an All-Star level.
Los Angeles handed over similar draft capital for a center who has never played a postseason minute in 201 career games.
The urgency tracks with the timeline, since Luka Doncic just won his second scoring title averaging 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists a game, only to lose the final weeks of his season and the entire playoff run to a hamstring injury, a reminder of how little room for error this team has.
Not Many Ways Left to Improve
With no first-round pick to trade for the next seven years, Los Angeles is left using players and cash to fill what remains.
Kessler and Deandre Ayton now hold down the frontcourt, but the wing spots behind Reaves, filled by Jarred Vanderbilt, Jake LaRavia and Dalton Knecht, still need an upgrade to hang with the top of the West.
Kessler still profiles as close to the best fit at center the market had to offer, and the front office agreed, but paying that price while also raising its original offer to keep Reaves off the market leaves coach JJ Redick with fewer tools than most rivals.
The same day brought a cheaper piece in Collin Sexton, who signed a two-year deal after a strong run in Chicago.
Los Angeles finished 53-29 last season, good for the fourth seed in the West, before Houston pushed it to six games and Oklahoma City completed a sweep in the second round.
Getting back to that level now depends on smaller moves rather than the bold ones that defined Wednesday.
