The biggest move of the summer for the Los Angeles Lakers was trading two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps for restricted free agent Walker Kessler. In turn, they gave the big man a four-year deal worth $130 million, a massive investment in a player many view as one of the best rim protectors in the sport.
Kessler played only five games last season due to a torn labrum, but he figures to be the ideal long-term partner for Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves at the center position. In his last full season — 2024-25 — he averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks on 66.3% shooting over 58 games.
L.A.’s ceiling will be largely determined by how much of an impact player Kessler is. One group that appears to have faith in him is an ESPN panel, as he made a major leap in the annual ESPN NBA Rank survey:
73. Walker Kessler
C | Los Angeles Lakers
Age: 25
2025 NBA Rank: 98Kessler’s potential fit alongside Luka Doncic has him vaulting 25 spots on the NBA Rank list, despite playing just five games last season. The surgically repaired torn labrum in Kessler’s left shoulder didn’t discourage the Lakers from trading unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, plus pick swaps in 2028 and 2030 to pry the 7-2 center from the Jazz. L.A. inked Kessler to a four-year, $130 deal, banking on him to anchor the defense while providing Doncic an ideal lob partner. — McMenamin
Signature stat: Kessler has averaged 2.4 blocks in his career, second most since entering the NBA in 2022-23, trailing Victor Wembanyama.Fantasy projection: 11.5 PTS, 12.4 REB, 2.6 BLK
Kessler is arguably the third-best rim protector in the NBA behind Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren. What he does defensively in the paint cannot be debated or ignored. However, what truly will determine his growth is if he can become more of an offensive factor playing next to Doncic and Reaves as opposed to a tanking Utah Jazz team.
He’ll also need to prove that his games played numbers were a figment of playing for a tanking team and not actually due to an inability to stay healthy.
Walker Kessler missed basketball while out last season
It could be seen as a risk that the Lakers traded for Kessler despite him only playing five games last season. However, that time away made the defensive stalwart more appreciative of the game.
“Sitting out a whole year definitely puts a lot of things in perspective,” Kessler said. “The heart grows fond in absence. I think falling in love with this game again and just realizing I just want to go win. I just want to play to win.”
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