5 Realistic Lakers Trade Targets at the 2025 Deadline

Walker Kessler

Valanciunas may not be the cleanest fit in Los Angeles but Walker Kessler certainly is. The biggest obstacle in front of the Lakers to be true championship contenders is their lack of sufficient defense and rim protection outside of Anthony Davis.

With his ability to play next to AD while also anchoring the defense when AD is not on the court, Kessler is the ideal trade target for the Lakers. The third-year player is one of the best young rim protectors in the league. The frontcourt of LeBron James, AD, and Kessler would be very hard to score on inside the arc.

The offensive fit of Kessler is less perfect. He is more comfortable around the rim and doesn't have a range outside a few feet around the basket. He can catch the ball and finish if he gets the ball in the right place, but his offensive game is limited outside of rim running, offensive rebounding, and finishing.

If they trade for Kessler, the Lakers will hope that the defensive improvement will more than compensate for the potential spacing issues on the other end of the floor.

One issue in this scenario is Kessler's price tag. The 23-year-old center is on a team-friendly contract and fits Utah's rebuilding timeline. The Lakers would likely need to send an unprotected or lightly-protected first-round pick to the Jazz to acquire Kessler. Whether that makes more sense than holding onto your assets for a bigger move down the line is up for debate.