The Los Angeles Lakers completely overhauled their roster from last season to this one, and by far the biggest move in doing that was landing Walker Kessler in free agency. L.A. gave the Utah Jazz two first-round picks and two pick swaps for the right to give Kessler a four-year, $130 million deal in a sign-and-trade. It’s a massive swing, but one the Lakers believe will pay off, with Kessler being a fantastic complement to Luka Doncic.
Kessler is the best defensive anchor the Lakers have had since the prime years of Anthony Davis, and L.A. is hoping that years on a tanking Jazz team did not reveal his full potential offensively. One person who likes the acquisition is Horace Grant.
Grant was the starting power forward on the Chicago Bulls’ first 1990s three-peat, then made his way to the Lakers for their 2000-01 title team. He knows about elite defense and championship basketball, and he believes in Kessler, according to Kyle Odegard of The Action Network:
“No disrespect to (Deandre) Ayton and the rest of those guys, but I think they were missing that toughness in the middle,” Grant said. “The rim protector. He can score, block shots, rebound. That toughness. I watched him in Utah and I enjoyed what I saw.”
There is no question that Kessler is a massive upgrade over Deandre Ayton, especially on the defensive end. And the Lakers knew that they needed to get a top-line center to play alongside Doncic and Austin Reaves, two players who have always maximized their centers.
Grant appears to have spent time watching Kessler’s work with the Jazz and loved what he saw, now believing in him to be a great fit with the Lakers.
Some have been down on the signing due to the contract or the draft picks associated with landing him, but if he brings elite rim protection and the ability to finish in the paint, it won’t matter nearly as much.
Lakers missed out on Jonathan Kuminga due to defense
Another addition the Lakers were hoping to make this summer was landing free agent Jonathan Kuminga. They reportedly offered him a three-year deal around $36 million, but he opted to take a two-year, $13 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
According to his agent, Aaron Turner, defense was the primary reason for the choice. The Timberwolves project to be a better defensive team than the Lakers, and Kuminga wanted to be a part of that.
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