The Lakers have landed the center they’ve been pursuing.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Los Angeles has acquired restricted free agent Walker Kessler from the Jazz in a sign-and-trade agreement.
Kessler will receive a four-year, $130 million contract as part of the deal.
In return, Utah is acquiring unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, along with first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030.
The move comes after multiple reports indicated Kessler was the Lakers’ top offseason target. While Los Angeles had enough cap space to pursue the 24-year-old with an offer sheet, the Jazz always held matching rights, making a sign-and-trade the cleaner path to completing a deal.
Utah had been expected to match virtually any offer sheet Kessler received in restricted free agency. Instead, the two sides worked out a trade that allows the Jazz to collect a significant haul of future draft assets.
Kessler emerged as one of the NBA’s top young centers during his time in Utah, earning a reputation as an elite rim protector and rebounder. His arrival addresses one of the Lakers’ biggest needs entering the 2026-27 season.
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The Lakers have landed the center they’ve been pursuing.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Los Angeles has acquired restricted free agent Walker Kessler from the Jazz in a sign-and-trade agreement.
Kessler will receive a four-year, $130 million contract as part of the deal.
In return, Utah is acquiring unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, along with first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030.
The move comes after multiple reports indicated Kessler was the Lakers’ top offseason target. While Los Angeles had enough cap space to pursue the 24-year-old with an offer sheet, the Jazz always held matching rights, making a sign-and-trade the cleaner path to completing a deal.
Utah had been expected to match virtually any offer sheet Kessler received in restricted free agency. Instead, the two sides worked out a trade that allows the Jazz to collect a significant haul of future draft assets.
“Kessler emerged as one of the NBA’s top young centers during his time in Utah, earning a reputation as an elite rim protector and rebounder,” Charania wrote. “His arrival addresses one of the Lakers’ biggest needs entering the 2026-27 season.”
Hoops Wire will have much more on this story as details become available.
Hoops Wire will have much more on this story as details become available.
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