The Los Angeles Lakers will likely begin the 2025-26 season without making any more changes. Despite expectations from the fanbase for a more active offseason and blockbuster moves, general manager Rob Pelinka has chosen to only add to the roster through free agency. Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, and Marcus Smart will certainly help, but the Lakers may still be a piece or two away from being a true contender in the loaded Western Conference.
The biggest weakness for the Lakers is considered to be the big man rotation. Ayton and Jaxson Hayes are the only traditional centers on the roster, and neither player is the defensive anchor and rim protector that teams need to win a championship. That is why the Lakers have been chasing Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz over the last year or two.
Despite the perceived interest from L.A., there hasn't been much movement on that front. According to Lakers Daily, though, the reason for that is Utah's ludicrous asking price for Kessler, according to Ashish Mathur on Thursday. One of Mathur's sources reportedly said that "the Lakers would have to part ways with Austin Reaves and multiple first-round picks to acquire Kessler."
Lakers Should Not Fall for Jazz's Walker Kessler Trap
If this is in fact the price tag for Kessler, the conversations would understandably not go anywhere. Yes, Kessler is young, talented, and is on a team-friendly deal. At the same time, his deal expires after the 2025-26 campaign, and he will need a contract extension upon acquisition. He is probably worth an unprotected first-round pick, but the idea that Reaves would have to be included is an obvious non-starter.
Jazz CEO Danny Ainge has recently taken over as a decision-maker in Utah, and this has his fingerprints all over it. Throughout his tenure in Boston, Ainge has gained a reputation as the league's premier deal-maker, regularly swindling desperate teams, most notably the Brooklyn Nets, in Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett deals. Starting negotiations in unrealistic spots with the hopes of the other team getting desperate enough to give him what he wants is his calling card.
The Lakers should not fall for this trap. A package involving Reaves and first-round picks could net the Lakers a much higher-quality player than Kessler. Reaves has his defensive shortcomings, but he has been consistently improving since arriving in Los Angeles and has established himself as a starting-caliber offensive creator. Considering his age and contract, the Lakers should only move on from him for a true difference-maker. And as good a defender as Kessler is, he is not at that level at this stage of his career.