Lakers land Jazz center Walker Kessler in sign-and-trade deal

The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to acquire center Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade, according to reports, adding a young rim-protector to a roster reshaped by LeBron James' departure — at the cost of a significant haul of future draft picks.

Aisha Carter July 2, 2026 at 1:20 AM

The Los Angeles Lakers have moved to solve one of their biggest roster questions, agreeing to bring in Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade deal, according to multiple reports.

The deal

Under the agreement, the Lakers send the Jazz a package of draft assets for the 7-foot-2 Kessler: unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, along with first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030, ESPN reported, citing sources. As part of the arrangement, Kessler is set to sign a new four-year contract worth about $130 million, according to NBA.com. As with most offseason trades reported by sources, the deal had not been formally announced by the teams at the time of reporting.

Filling a hole in the middle

The move addresses a clear need. After LeBron James left in free agency, the Lakers were short on size and interior defense, and Kessler — a 24-year-old known for shot-blocking and rebounding — is exactly the kind of rim-protecting center that profile calls for. In Los Angeles he is set to anchor the paint alongside the team's guards, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, giving the Lakers a defensive presence at the basket to build around.

A steep price

The cost drew attention. Two unprotected first-round picks, stretching into the next decade, plus two additional swaps, is a substantial outlay for a center who has not been an All-Star, and some analysts questioned whether the Lakers paid a premium. Supporters of the deal counter that quality young big men rarely become available, that Kessler's skills fit the roster's needs, and that a contending timeline built around Dončić justifies spending future picks now.

Part of a busy market

The trade is one of several notable moves in an eventful NBA offseason, which has already seen stars change teams across the league. For Utah, acquiring a stack of future draft capital fits a longer-term, asset-gathering approach; for Los Angeles, it is a bet on winning sooner. How the gamble looks will depend on Kessler's fit and health — but for now, the Lakers have their center, and the Jazz have a pile of picks to shape their next few years.