Lakers acquire Walker Kessler from Jazz in sign-and-trade deal
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 1, 2026, 5:06 PM
Last updated Jul 1, 2026
The Los Angeles Lakers announced the acquisition of Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz on July 1, 2026. In exchange, the Lakers traded their 2031 and 2033 first-round draft picks, along with pick swaps in 2028 and 2030. Kessler, a seven-foot shot blocker and former NCAA Defensive Player of the Year, signed a four-year contract worth $130 million. This move comes after LeBron James decided to play elsewhere, marking a significant shift for the franchise. Kessler is expected to bolster the Lakers' defense and serve as a key player alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
- •Kessler averaged 2.4 blocks per game in his NBA career.
- •Kessler's contract includes a player option for the final year.
- •The Lakers traded away four future draft picks for Kessler.
- •Kessler is viewed as a key asset in a Doncic-led offense.
- 5:06 PMYahoo Sports — Walker Kessler Is a Perfect Fit as the Lakers’ Franchise Center
"Walker Kessler is the Los Angeles Lakers’ new franchise center. Just a day after LeBron James announced his plans to play elsewhere, the Lakers acquired the seven-foot shot blocker from the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade deal. The Lakers sent their 2031 and 2033 first-round picks, along with pick swaps in 2028 and 2030, to […] The post Walker Kessler Is a Perfect Fit as the Lakers’ Franchise Center appeared first on The Lead.
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