The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to prioritize finding a long-term answer at center this offseason, and recent developments involving Utah Jazz big man Walker Kessler could be worth monitoring closely.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Kessler’s approaching restricted free agency places him among the most intriguing center options available this summer, even if acquiring him remains complicated.
“The Lakers do badly need a high-level starting center,” Windhorst reported. “The two best ones on the free agent market this summer, Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons) and Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz), are restricted free agents, and their teams have indicated they want to keep them.”
The Lakers have been linked to frontcourt upgrades since their playoff elimination, with the organization seeking more size and rim protection around Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and potentially LeBron James.
Kessler fits many of those needs.
The 24-year-old center has emerged as one of the NBA’s premier defensive big men since entering the league. Before suffering a torn labrum in his left shoulder that required surgery, Kessler averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 70.3 percent from the field across five appearances.
Windhorst noted that the Lakers could attempt to leverage Kessler’s contract situation by presenting him with an offer sheet.
“The Lakers could try to work with Kessler — a defensive specialist with excellent size who has been far apart from the Jazz in contract talks since last summer — to try to stress the Jazz with an offer sheet,” Windhorst wrote.
However, he also highlighted the risks involved.
“But that’s a dangerous game.”
Walker Kessler’s contract standoff with Jazz adds intrigue to Lakers’ center search
An offer sheet cannot be signed until July 6, and the Jazz would then have 48 hours to decide whether to match. That waiting period often prevents teams from pursuing other opportunities during the busiest stretch of free agency.
The situation became even more noteworthy after reporting from The Athletic’s Sam Amick suggested tensions exist between Kessler and Utah’s front office.
“Meanwhile, sources tell The Athletic that a player who does want to be there – big man Walker Kessler – is at odds with the front office over his lack of an extension offer last summer and the current handling of his restricted free agency,” Amick reported.
Those comments surfaced amid broader scrutiny surrounding the Jazz after reports that top prospect Darryn Peterson declined to work out for the organization ahead of the draft.
While Utah still controls Kessler’s restricted free agency rights and has publicly indicated a desire to keep him, the reported disagreement over his contract status adds another layer to the situation.
For the Lakers, any potential pathway to acquiring Kessler remains difficult. Still, with few high-end centers expected to reach unrestricted free agency, his situation in Utah figures to be one of the most closely watched storylines of the offseason.
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