The Los Angeles Lakers make a big move by acquiring Walker Kessler.
Smart has joined the Houston Rockets, Kennard went to the Phoenix Suns, and LeBron informed the team that he wouldn't be returning as an unrestricted free agent.
They did re-sign Austin Reaves, who was set to become an unrestricted after declining his player option, but returned to the Lakers on a four-year deal woth $185 million.
Going into the offseason, the Lakers had a big need at center as they looked for the perfect partner to pair with Luke Doncic.
On Wednesday, they found their answer, trading unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030 to the Utah Jazz for Walker Kessler. They then signed Kessler, who was a restricted free agent, to a four-year $130 million deal.
A Good Move?
The Lakers needed a center who was going to fit next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, and they got perhaps the best fit on the market in Kessler.
There are questions of an overpay on the Lakers behalf as they traded two unprotected firsts in seasons where Luka will be over 30 and perhaps not even on the team, and then signed him to a deal with an average salary of $32 million, but it was the price they had to pay in a weak free agent market and needing to find long-term solution at center before there was another down year in Luka's prime.
There is some risk involved as Kessler is coming off shoulder surgery for a torn labrum, and he'll now be playing meaningful and competitive basketball, which wasn't the case during his first four seasons in Utah.
How Does He Fit?
Like a glove.
He's going to set crushing screens, roll to the rim, rebound everything, and provide rim protection.
He even showed off an improved touch and playmaking last season, though it was just a five-game sample size, so there isn't much to read into that.
He's not going to be a stretch center anyway, or at least he shouldn't be, so the touch and range won't be a concern if it hasn't improved, but if his playmaking is getting better, that's only going to benefit the Lakers.
There wasn't a better fit on the free agent market, and while it might be looked at as an overpay, it was worth the risk for the Lakers.
