SerpApi.Org
The Los Angeles Lakers knew that they were paying a heavy price to land Walker Kessler this offseason. They gave up two unprotected first-round picks, two first-round pick swaps, and then signed the 24-year-old center to a four-year, $130 million deal.
Many around the league have said that the cost was too high, but NBA insider Marc Stein revealed that the Lakers had a simple reason to go all-in: Luka Doncic.
According to Stein, Kessler was always the Lakers’ top center target this offseason. The front office saw him as a long-term piece next to Luka and planned to pair the two stars together even before talks began.
“Walker Kessler, as established in free agency’s early hours, was always the Lakers’ No. 1 target this offseason.”
“However … Such are the realities of restricted free agency that it will also always cost lots to convince any incumbent team to surrender a player under RFA control. The Lakers feel this as acutely as anyone this summer. To establish a pathway so quickly after the marketplace opened to pry Kessler away from the Jazz required them to surrender two future first-round picks (fully unprotected in both 2031 and 2033) and two first-round pick swaps (2028 and 2030) in addition to signing Kessler to a new four-year, $130 million contract.”
“Yet I’m told that the Lakers were emboldened to go to such lengths to acquire Kessler in large part because they acquired Luka Doncic from Dallas on such favorable terms in February 2025. As hard to believe as it continues to be nearly 18 months since The Trade was consummated, Doncic was somehow pilfered from the Mavericks with just one unprotected first-round pick in 2029 leaving Lakerland.”
“That solitary future first was packaged with Anthony Davis and Max Christie to land Luka … with the Lakers also successfully keeping Austin Reaves out of the trade. The trade assets preserved in that heist, in other words, helped nudge the Lakers to a place where they believed they could withstand spending so big on Kessler.”
“They, too, had promised Doncic a top-flight center in the summer of 2026 as far back as last summer, when he committed to sign a three-year, $165 million extension. The Lakers are thus convinced that, pricey as it was to pull off, they have duly delivered the best two-way big man Doncic will have played with through his first nine NBA seasons.”
The biggest challenge was obviously getting the Utah Jazz to stand down. Because Kessler was a restricted free agent, the Jazz had all the power. Even if the Lakers had offered a bigger contract to Kessler, the Jazz would have likely matched it. So the Lakers ultimately sent two fully unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, along with first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030, to finalize a sign-and-trade.
Stein explained the Lakers’ eagerness to give up so many future draft picks was tied to the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade in 2025.
Because they gave up just one first-round pick in that trade, the Lakers were able to add a generational superstar without emptying their closet. With Doncic agreeing to an extension last summer, the Lakers felt it was time to keep their promise to their franchise superstar. The Lakers feel that Kessler is the best two-way big man Doncic will have played with throughout his first nine NBA seasons.
But not everyone agrees with the move. Yahoo Sports’ Ben Rohrbach labeled Kessler’s four-year, $130 million contract the second-worst deal in 2026 free agency. Giving up four future draft picks and a massive contract to an injury-prone center did not sit well with everyone.
The concerns are pretty understandable. Kessler has dealt with several injuries throughout his NBA career, including shoulder surgery that ruled him out last season after playing just five games.
But the Lakers are confident that the health issues are behind him. During the 2025-26 season, he averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.8 blocks before going down with an injury. His ability to finish near the basket, rebound, and defend at a high level makes him a perfect fit next to Luka.
At the end of the day, the Lakers still paid a hefty price. But they believe that having a top-tier center is at the core of any great Lakers team. And after landing Doncic on a bargain deal, they decided it was worth it to surround their superstar with a perfect center.
Whether the gamble will pay off remains to be seen. The Lakers are hoping they can once again return to championship contention in the post-LeBron James era.
