Lakers Finally Acquire a Quality Center in Latest Projected Trade

After a disappointing offseason where they didn't make a substantial move, the Los Angeles Lakers finally traded for a quality rotation player last week. Parting ways with frustrating point guard D'Angelo Russell, the Lakers acquired three-and-D forward Dorian Finney-Smith from the Brooklyn Nets.

If the Lakers want to be a true title contender, however, that transaction alone will not be enough. The team needs more depth and talent to compete with the best of the best in the Western Conference. That is especially true for the frontcourt.

Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus recently came up with a mock trade proposal that gives the Lakers exactly what they need. In this scenario, the Lakers send a first-round pick and Christian Wood to the Utah Jazz for talented big man Walker Kessler. They also remove the top-4 protection on the first-round pick they already owe the Jazz from the Russell Westbrook trade.

Kessler is a defensive stalwart that has the ability to be an anchor in the paint. He is a good rim protector with size, length, and physicality. Not only would he be the best backup center the Lakers had behind Anthony Davis in years, but he could also potentially play next to AD in two big lineups.

Offensively, Kessler is still a work in progress. The 23-year-old big man can finish around the rim but his range doesn't extend much further. This will create spacing concerns for the Lakers, who are already lacking in shooting.

However, Kessler will help the backup units defensively and is a major upgrade over the likes of Jaxson Hayes and Christian Koloko. Plus, he is under team control on a team-friendly deal.

The Lakers should not make the first-round pick unprotected as that would carry significant risks but if they can get this deal done with a lightly protected pick, they should seriously consider it.

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